Joe Canning has revealed that the serious hamstring injury he suffered in the All-Ireland hurling semi-final againt Tipperary could have ended his career had it occurred a centimetre or two away from where it actually did. 

The Galway star has had surgery on the injury which occurred on August 14th and is currently rehabbing with an eye to a return at some point during the 2016 Allianz Hurling League campaign.  

The Portumna clubman is part of Off The Ball's panel that is deciding the Bord Gais Energy under-21 hurling championship team of the year, part of which was picked on Tuesday night.

But he also spoke about the extent of the injury and the recovery time frame.

Galway's Joe Canning injured ©INPHO/Donall Farmer

"It's not too bad. I'm getting the brace off one of the days so six weeks done after the operation. So rehab now for the next couple of months," he said, before touching on how long the recovery is expected to take.

"It's about six months altogether so hopefully I'll get back for a bit of the league next year and see how we go."

But while there is clear light at the end of the tunnel now, he also admitted that a centimetre here or there and his career might have been ended.

"Probably a centimetre and a half away from ending my career so that's how lucky and unlucky I am in a way.

"If it went off the bone, it would be a different story but there's still hope to try and get back anyway."

Tune into Off The Ball tonight from 7pm to listen to Joe Canning and the panel pick the midfield, half-forward and full-forward line picks for the Bord Gais Energy All-Ireland team of the year 2016.