Shefflin and Canning honoured on Fitzgibbon Cup team of the century

‘King’ Henry Shefflin and Galway dynamo Joe Canning are two of three modern day players honoured on the Fitzgibbon Cup Team of the Century.

A committee appointed by Comhairle Ardoideachais CLG pored over a shortlist of 75 names and considered criteria such as consistent excellence, commitment and eligibility before coming up with their final XV, with only three modern-day players making the cut.

The inclusion of Shefflin and Canning is hardly a surprise, while the third player still playing today is Limerick’s Seamus Hickey, who served University of Limerick with distinction for four years.

While Canning has been a revelation at inter-county level of late, he has been absolutely phenomenal for LIT, helping the college to the Fitzgibbon title in 2007 and scoring a scarcely believable 1-16 (including four sideline cuts for God’s sake) when losing the final to WIT after extra-time the following year.

Ten time All-Star and possibly the greatest of all time Henry Shefflin won two Fitzgibbon Finals, lost two Fitzgibbon Finals and was top scorer in two Fitzgibbon Finals with WIT, a place that played a major role in turning him into the hurler he is today.

Other notable names on the Team of the Century include Tipperary legend Nicky English and Henry Downey, who captained Derry to an All-Ireland senior football title in 1993.

Irish Daily Mail Fitzgibbon Cup Team of the Century:

1. Tommy Daly (UCD & An Clár/Baile Átha Cliath), 1915-27

2. Séamus Hickey (UL & Luimneach), 2007-11

3. Niall McInerney (UCG & An Clár/Gaillimh), 1970-77

4. John Grainger (UCC & Corcaigh), 1983-87

5. Seán Silke (Maynooth & Gaillimh), 1973-76

6. Ted Carroll (UCD & Cill Chainnigh), 1958-62

7. Éamonn Corcoran (WIT & Tiobraid Árann), 1998-2000

8. Paul O'Connor (UCC & Corcaigh), 1982-86

9. Jim Hurley (UCC & Corcaigh), 1925-31

10. Henry Downey (QUB & Doire), 1986-89

11. John O'Halloran (UCC & Corcaigh), 1961-69

12. Pat Henchy (UCC/UCD & An Clár), 1957-64

13. Nicholas English (UCC & Tiobraid Árann), 1981-85

14. Joe Canning (LIT & Gaillimh), 2007-

15. Henry Shefflin (WIT & Cill Chainnigh), 1998-2002