Joe Canning hopes to sample intercounty hurling in August for the first time.

Astonishingly, the Portumna talisman has yet to represent his county beyond the month of July but - as he prepares for Sunday's season opener against UCD in Belfield - he says in today's Independent that he hopes 2012 will be the breakthrough year:

"You'd dream about those kind of things, playing in an All-Ireland final. I am playing senior hurling now for the past four years and I haven't played in an All-Ireland semi-final yet.

"I haven't played in August yet for Galway. I suppose that's frustrating, but that's life, you have to stay plugging away."

As for the five-game league: "It is going to be tough because a lot of teams in the last couple of years have been treating the league a lot more seriously than before and it's almost getting into championship pace at the moment.

"So, if you can get one or two early wins under your belt, you'd be happy enough with that." Tweet

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