Former Wexford manager Liam Griffin believes that Joe Canning was a better hurler than 10-time All-Ireland winner Henry Shefflin.

Canning announced his retirement from inter-county hurling yesterday after 14 seasons in the maroon of Galway.

Last weekend the Portumna man made a niche for himself in the history books by overtaking Shefflin to become the all-time hurling championship top scorer.

Speaking on Off The Ball, Griffin described Canning as “definitely one of the greatest hurlers” he has ever seen to play the game.

"I would have him absolutely in the top echelon," said the 1996 All-Ireland winning boss.

"He was a better hurler than Henry [Shefflin]. That may sound bad, but he was technically a better hurler and Henry had to work much harder for the qualities that he had.

"Henry didn't get on his team in college [...] but Joe Canning was shining from the time he was a good bit younger. That's where Henry deserves great credit because he had to work so hard for it.

"We've had so many great hurlers that I would say you cannot separate them out because they all came from different angles. But I would definitely put Joe Canning as definitely one of the greatest hurlers I have ever seen play the game."

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