Galway's hopes of retaining their Leinster SHC crown have been dealt a devastating blow with the news that Joe Canning will be out of action for up to 16 weeks with the groin injury he sustained in last Sunday's Allianz Hurling League semi-final defeat to Waterford.

Initially understood to be no more than a dead leg, it has now emerged that the 2017 Hurler of the Year will require surgery for the injury which came about following a heavy shoulder by Kevin Moran as he headed towards goal in the closing stages of the game in Nowlan Park, and resulted in him being stretchered off.

The injury will sideline the Portumna sharpshooter until mid-July and this afternoon Galway GAA released a statement in which it hit out at media reports on Canning's fitness that were “entirely incorrect and were at no point checked with the Galway team management or medical team”.

The statement also confirmed that Fintan Burke will miss the remainder of the season after he suffered cruciate ligament damage in St Thomas' All-Ireland club SHC final defeat to Ballyhale Shamrocks on St Patrick's Day.

PRESS RELEASE - Galway Senior Hurling Teamhttps://t.co/8xksCNf1WY pic.twitter.com/OGTLXgkIH2

— Galway GAA (@Galway_GAA) March 30, 2019

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