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Critics of Joe Canning don't know hurling - DJ Carey

“To be great is to be misunderstood.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson Since poet and philo...



Critics of Joe Canning don'...
Football

Critics of Joe Canning don't know hurling - DJ Carey

“To be great is to be misunderstood.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Since poet and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson died two years before the GAA officially began, he probably knew little or nothing about hurling but his quote maybe applicable to Joe Canning and the talk around him.  If there’s one man who understands the pressure of greatness and what it must be like to be Joe Canning, it’s DJ Carey. It’s hard to imagine now but there was one a time when Carey’s ability on biggest stage was doubted. Despite all the criticism the Gowran man must get a giggle, if he’s not too busy shining his nine Celtic Crosses, five All Stars and ten Leinster Medals.

Portumna star Canning scored 4-32 in this years Leinster campaign before adding  five points against Cork and a further ten against Tipperary in the semi final. Eight of those ten points were from placed balls including a majestic sideline cut. Despite these records, some are not emphasising the positive, but are focusing on the chances Canning hasn’t taken although to the critics credit, almost all have highlighted his impressive work rate including hooks, blocks and tackles.

DJ won’t stand for criticism of Canning or any other top class forward who doesn’t hammer every nail they put down. “I honestly think anyone who criticises Joe Canning or any player for putting the ball wide or any other reason must not have really played the game or must need something to say."  The Young Irelands forward gives us an insight into being a watched man; “in play you’re being watched closely. The ball could be wet, it could be anything and criticising a guy who puts that small thing wide or who isn’t playing well doesn’t make sense because people have to realise you are being hit very hard”.

Carey, a former inter county footballer himself with Kilkenny, draws comparison with Colm Cooper against Tyrone on Sunday. “Maybe he didn’t have his greatest game but he got hit very very hard as soon as he got near the ball and that’s what happens at the highest level. You’re on an individual who doesn’t want to let you score and you get hit hard, anyone who criticises anyone at that level hasn’t picked up a hurl that often”.

DJ Carey raises the Liam McCarthy Cup on Hill 16 after the 2003 All Ireland Final. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

It’s a strange time for players while us as fans are occupied by a sporting feast at the moment including  All Ireland football semi finals, the Premier League and Rugby World Cup build up but the Galway and Kilkenny players want to keep their focus, and at the same time not burn up all their mental energy before the big day arrives on Sunday week. We ask Carey if he did anything different in preparation for finals as opposed to any other game? “You’d try to avoid people who are fanatics who’d tell you have it in the bag you’d try to avoid papers and media stuff but at the same time try to get on with your life. The real build up for this starts four or five days before. That’s when the real excitement happens because between now and then you’re still training you’re still preparing. As soon as the tickets get issued and supporters come to training that’s when the much bigger build up and excitement actually happens.“

As always the ticket hunt can be as intense and exciting as the match itself and for some. If they don’t secure a ticket for their other half who is from one of the participating counties, the threat of being dumped is real. (It’s me and I genuinely live in fear so if you can help a brother out.) Ok, I digress but what if you knew some players to say hello to but were not part of their family, circle of friends or entourage you wouldn’t ask or bother them about tickets would you? Well not everyone is aware of the silliness of that as you and recalling his days as a player or ticket vendor as some saw him DJ says while laughing; “there’s many people who still owe money for tickets at this stage who might even like to avoid you”. He admits that maybe now the public are wiser and players are more protected and that’s a good thing.

What about the ex players? Do they ever tire of hurling talk? Lets be honest, as soon as you meet DJ Carey all you want to do is talk hurling, particularly coming up to the final but is that something he gets sick of? “Ah you never get sick of it, it’s fantastic. It’s great obviously we’re supporters now and you never get sick of it, everything is improving so much now in Kilkenny we’ve had such a great era and it’s continuing. We didn’t think it would continue and it will whatever happens in the All Ireland final. We’re so grateful to be in a time when we have a great manager and a fantastic team who’ve brought the game to another level.”

Joe Soap may not be able to give a current player much insight but does DJ try to impart some of his vast amount of knowledge when he meets one of the present day panel? “I wouldn’t bother players too much if I saw them I’d say hello and wish them every success but I wouldn’t ask what happened in training because that’s a private matter”.

You can listen to DJ’s interview in full on those matters and the injury concerns over Eoin Larkin on the Rewind Podcast.

Critics of Joe Canning don't know hurling - DJ Carey

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