Galway's Joe Canning reflected on a remarkable 2017 which saw the Tribesmen get their hands on Liam McCarthy after nearly three decades of a wait. 

Speaking to Off the Ball's Ger Gilroy at the Bord Gáis Energy GAA under-21 Team of the Year awards, Canning admitted he was enjoying more freedom in the way he plays the game now. 

"Since we won the club (championship) in '14, I was midfield from the semi-final of the club championship, the final and then the semi-final and the final so since then I've been in midfield/half-forward line with the club since 2014."

Asked if it was his decision to move position, he said: "No, no, that was management's decision. I probably offered a little bit more out there. I was delighted though because at club level, the sweeper was coming in that time. It was very frustrating when there was guys sitting in front of you. I still find that frustrating nowadays if there's sweepers. 

"We played against sweepers this year. I remember against Offaly - they had two just in front of their full-back line and obviously, the Wexford game, I don't think people actually realise that their half-forwards are nearly, or half-backs I mean, are the most attacking half-backs in the country. 

"Like I think Diarmuid O'Keefe is the second highest top-scorer from play. In the quarter-final against Waterford he scored two points from the far wing-forward position. I found it funny in the Leinster final, for whatever reason it came into my head, it was Philly McMahon and the Gooch a couple of years ago in the football - I was following Mathew O'Hanlon the whole way down the field. He took two points off me in the first half and people say that they're very defensive. 

"I always laugh at that when people say that. Like obviously they have Sean Murphy back - their half-back line is thundering up the field at every opportunity they get. 

"So, it is enjoyable, there's more room, there's more space. I tackle a lot more now. You mightn't always hear about it in the national media but definitely they realise in Galway that I can add a bit more out there and more physicality I suppose than I could in the full-forward line. I am enjoying the freedom that little bit more but at the same time I'm still only learning - it's my first year at centre-forward at inter-county," he added.   

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