Galway star Joe Canning paid tribute to Clare manager Davy Fitzgerald following today's All-Ireland SHC quarter-final between the two counties in Thurles.

The Portumna clubman struck 1-8 for the Tribesmen as they saw off their Munster counterparts by 2-17 to 0-17 and his thoughts were with Fitzgerald afterwards as he continues to recover from the minor heart surgery he underwent in mid-week.  

"There is more important things in life than sport," Canning told RTE Sport after the final whistle. "We are amateur players at the end of the day and our health is our wealth and it is great to see Davy there on the line today and that's what it's all about.  

"We only play this as a hobby at the end of the day, that's all it is. I went through it myself with my mother last year and my dad at the moment so as long as people are healthy on the sidelines, it is great to see Davy and we wish him the best in his recovery as well."

On the recent criticism that Galway have come in for since the Leinster final defeat to Kilkenny, Canning added: "We got to an All-Ireland final last year. We lost a Leinster final to the best team that has probably ever played the game and…I dunno, it's a bit funny really. We are competitive. We made eight mistakes in the Leinster final against Kilkenny and they punish you.

"We live to fight another day and we have a tough one now against Tipperary in the semi-final."

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