Joe Canning has dismissed suggestions that the winners of next February's eagerly-awaited All-Ireland club hurling semi-final between Portumna and Ballyhale will be a shoo-in for All-Ireland honours. The clash of the two most recent Tommy Moore Cup recipients has been billed by some as the real All-Ireland final, but Portumna and Galway ace Canning feels this is disrespectful to De La Salle and Cushendall, who meet in the other semi-final. "I think it's very disrespectful to De La Salle and Cushendall because they are every bit as good as us. They came through Munster and Ulster campaigns and it's the same with us in Galway and Ballyhale in Leinster," he said. Speaking at the 2009 Higher Education Championship draws which took place in Croke Park yesterday, the All-Star corner forward also insisted that Galway's move into Leinster isn't a quick-fix solution to winning the Liam McCarthy Cup. "People have to realise that this isn't just the answer, that just because we are in Leinster there is no reason why we shouldn't win an All-Ireland," he added. "The thing about Galway last year was brilliant one day and poor the next day. We have to win a few more matches and, with a few more competitive matches, we could be reasonably okay for the summer. "The players always wanted it. The other guys are looking to January 18 when we play in the Walsh Cup. "We will get a lot of matches and we will learn how to gel better as a team. It will be better for us earlier on in the year." Tweet

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