Burning Issue: Another Joe show or will King Henry reign again?

They’re the two biggest names in hurling and they both had huge games in the drawn All-Ireland Final, but will it be Joe Canning or Henry Shefflin who wields the bigger influence this Sunday?

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Conor Heneghan says... There already has been a bit of fuss and there probably will be more focus on Joe Canning’s comments about Henry Shefflin in the run-up to Sunday’s final, but the effect it will have on the King himself will be fairly minimal.

Kilkenny have a habit of wringing motivation from any possible source, but when analysed in detail, Canning’s comments weren’t actually that bad and Henry proved in the drawn game that the prospect of another All-Ireland title is all the motivation he needs.

In fact, Shefflin’s performance three weeks ago makes one wonder about the role that hunger plays in the GAA. Dublin’s poor performance this year has been put down to the lack of the animalistic desire that won them Sam in the first place, but if winning an All-Ireland has such a detrimental effect on a team’s hunger, why do Shefflin and Kilkenny consistently return to the top table with the same appetite they had the year before?

Henry himself provided an answer in the drawn game. Isolated in the full-forward line at the start, Henry moved to centre-forward – seemingly of his own accord – midway through the first half and instantly became the most influential player in the game. And it wasn’t just through his free-taking and contribution from general play that he made a difference.

He was more animated in cajoling his colleagues than I have seen him for some time and as Canning pointed out, he made sure he was in the ear of the referee as well. Tony Óg Regan has had a storming season for Galway this year but he couldn’t cope with Henry, who appears to be having more rather than less of an influence on the Cats the longer his career goes on.

With Richie Power, Eoin Larkin and Colin Fennelly so quiet the first day, Kilkenny would have been screwed if Shefflin didn’t come up with the goods. He didn’t need Brian Cody to tell him to take it upon himself to make a difference, he never does. That’s the understanding that is built up between a manager and his best player after more than a decade on the go together and it is why, when Shefflin looked to Cody for guidance with the last-gasp penalty, that Cody trusted his on-field lieutenant.

Joe Canning, brilliant and all as he is, has not yet assumed that level of importance for the Tribesmen. He wasn’t helped by the lack of quality ball coming his way but he didn’t touch the ball for half an hour of the second half in the drawn game. It’s hard to imagine that happening to Shefflin, even if he’s having a poor game. Indeed, in the Leinster Final – Kilkenny’s worst game in yonks – it was Shefflin that led the ultimately futile attempt at a comeback.

Having changed the face of the game after his switch in the first game, you’d have to think that Shefflin will operate on the ’40 for the replay and Anthony Cunningham will certainly have been thinking as to how to best nullify his influence on Sunday.

Countless managers before Cunningham have tried something similar and the majority of them have failed, however, and we’ve a feeling that King Henry will reign supreme once again this weekend.

If it does end up securing him a record ninth All-Ireland title and eleventh All-Star award, it would be fitting if he can deliver a performance to mark the occasion.

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Declan Whooley says... Having had three weeks to review the drawn All-Ireland Final, Galway go into the replay confident of toppling perhaps the greatest side to have ever graced the game. Anthony Cunningham has instilled a team ethic that has been lacking in recent years, but it is without doubt Joe Canning that holds the key to Galway’s dreams on Sunday.

Before we examine the influence he will have in the final, let's have a quick reminder of what the Portumna man has achieved in his career thus far. At club level he has four county medals and three All-Irelands while he won a Fitzgibbon medal in 2007 and was inducted to the Fitzgibbon Team of the Century. He has two All-Stars and was awarded the Young Hurler of the Year in 2008. You would be forgiven for forgetting that he has not yet celebrated his 24th birthday.

Canning has found the net in both games against the Cats this season. Considering he had Jackie Tyrell for company in the Leinster Final and JJ Delaney in close proximity last time out makes it even more impressive. Delaney looked in serious trouble in the opening half and was lucky that his yellow card did not come sooner in the game. Both goals demonstrated his all round game. Fielding, strength, speed, technique, movement and accuracy. When was the last time we saw both defenders struggle so badly in Croke Park?

His percentage from dead balls is up there with the very best and just ask the Dublin footballers in recent years the difference this can make. It was out of character to miss the late free from well within his range, but if the mark of a sporting great is his ability to cope with a setback, then his future in the annals of the Association is confirmed. The levelling point was taken under the most intense of scrutiny and he came through with flying colours.

In the aftermath of the game, Canning made comments questioning the sportsmanship of Henry Shefflin during the game, claiming he tried to influence referee Barry Kelly. Anthony Cunningham may have wished for the forward to keep those views to himself, but he was not afraid to voice his opinion and has become a real leader in the team. He also stated that Galway could learn from the Cats in how they operate in big games. Fergal Moore may have the armband, but it is Canning who is giving a helping hand in guiding this set of players to demand higher standards.

Cunningham has called on a bigger performance from his other forwards which is of little surprise given the fact that four of them failed to register a single white flag between them. They can only improve, but it is the performance of Canning that will have the most significant bearing on the game, especially if he lurks on the edge of the square where he can cause most damage.

Much has been made of the duel between Canning and Shefflin and we are privileged to see the two craftsmen at work on the same pitch. The Galway man will have to go a long way to try an emulate the Ballyhale man, who has only tasted defeat seven times in his 61 championship games for the Cats.

Arguing over who is the better player can only truly be judged when the Portumna’s man career comes to a finish. Shefflin, who is going for a record eleven All-Stars, had two at the same age as Canning, his current tally at the moment. Emulating Shefflin’s achievements may be a tall order, but if you had to back any current player to get close, then it would have to be Canning.

This Sunday we will witness two of finest exponents of our game looking to inspire their side to glory. Since 1999 King Henry has carried the burden of expectations on his shoulders with distinction, but it may be time for the heir to the throne to take his place at the top table.