Joe Canning says he found the Sunday Game analysis of Galway’s winning free against Kilkenny at the weekend ‘hilarious.’
The recently retired Galway legend is adamant that Paddy Deegan's last gasp hit on Tom Monaghan was a free to Henry Shefflin’s side.
Conor Cooney stepped up to nail the clinching score, which sent Galway second behind Dublin in the Leinster Round Robin and secured a massive victory for his side.
Speaking on the Sunday game that night, former Waterford boss Derek McGrath said it was a “really, really unfair decision.”
Beside him, ex-Limerick All-Ireland winner, Shane Dowling said: “Not (a free) for me.
“He (Deegan) was eyes on the ball. Man, ball and all. He went straight in. It was mad because it could have gone either way.
“Brian Cody rarely blames referees, but he went straight in after the Henry (handshake) incident and let Colm Lyons know about it.”
Canning (33) was bemused by the analysis of the incident at Pearse Stadium, which was followed by what appeared to be a frosty handshake between Cody and Shefflin.
“I’m not just saying it and people will say, ‘Ah Jesus, you’re from Galway,’ said Canning.
“Now I didn’t see the Sunday Game I don’t really watch it – but I heard it back that Shane Dowling and Derek McGrath said it wasn’t a free because he got man ball and all.
“I found it hilarious. Like, if you get the man is that not a free.
“It didn’t make sense what they were saying to me. Any time you go through the back of a player is free, to be straight up about it.
“And if it was the opposite way you’d have to hold your hand up and say it was a free. But at the end of the day if you get man ball and all, nine times out of 10 is it not a free, no?”
Joe Canning was speaking at the launch of the Bord Gáis Energy GAA Legends Tour series at Croke Park. The tours start on Saturday May 28.
Bord Gáis Energy customers will get the exclusive opportunity to attend all tours throughout the summer. The full schedule and details of how to book your place on a tour can be viewed at crokepark.ie/legends.
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