It will be all change for Galway in 2022. Not only are they coming off the back of a very disappointing year, but there will be some big personnel changes for next season.
Joe Canning, their talisman for the last 13 years, has stepped away from inter-county hurling after his injury issues in recent years. There has also been a major shakeup on the sidelines, with Kilkenny legend Henry Shefflin brought in to replace Shane O'Neill as manager.
Despite Shefflin's lack of experience at this level, this will be a hugely exciting appointment. The 42-year old already has two All-Ireland club titles under his belt as manager of Ballyhale Shamrocks and will be expected to have a big impact out west.
Could it be enough to tempt Joe Canning into coming back for one more year?
Speaking on RTÉ's Sunday Sport, John Mullane said that while it would be tough to turn Shefflin down, he doesn't see Canning entering into the fold. Despite this, he is massively excited to see what the ten time Liam MacCarthy winner can do with Galway.
If Henry Shefflin picks up the phone, it will be very hard to say no to him...
I don’t think so (that Canning will reverse his decision). I think Joe has made the right move for himself, the right move for Galway hurling.
I think it might make Henry’s job an awful lot easier when he sits down with the other lads and says he wants to take Galway hurling in a different direction...
I think it’s great for hurling. I would really hope that Henry does well.
He’s a very astute man. He knows the game inside-out, led Ballyhale to two All-Irelands. The personnel he surrounds himself with is now crucial.
It would certainly be exciting to see this pair team up for the year, but there has been little indication that Canning has any regrets about his decision to retire.
Galway fans will be perhaps a bit disappointed that their respective tenures with the county did not overlap.
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