Joe Canning is the 2017 Hurler of the Year.
The Galway star was always going to go down as one of the very best of his generation and awards like this will certainly add to the misty-eyed lustre in years to come.
However, as Canning has oft said himself, it would not erase the lingering sense of regret he would surely feel had he hung up his boots without at least one All-Ireland triumph to look back on.
In September, Canning and his Galway teammates defeated Waterford to clinch the Liam MacCarthy and bring it back over the Shannon for the first time in 29 years.
What made the achievement all the more emotional was Galway losing legendary hurler Tony Keady earlier this year. The former Galway captain was part of the county side that enthralled the nation for much of the 1980s and his early passing was keenly felt.
It was a therefore poignant and bittersweet moment when Shannon Keady, Tony’s 16-year-old daughter, was asked on stage to present the 2017 HOTY award to Canning.
The Portumna man received a rapturous applause as he made his way onto the stage and accepted the award from a smiling Shannon.
When RTE presenter Michael Lyster noted it was 30 years since Keady was named Hurler of the Year, Canning said:
“It certainly puts things in perspective but it’s great to follow in someone’s footsteps like Tony. He was a great inspiration to all of us and we certainly carried him with us in September, in the All-Ireland, as well.”
The 2017 Hurler of the Year Joe Canning acknowledges the Galway star who won the same award 30 years ago #PwCAllStars #RTEGAA pic.twitter.com/yfh7KbmcPx
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) November 3, 2017
An uplifting moment at the end of a great night at the Dublin Convention Centre.
