JOE CANNING SAYS it was a complete surprise to be named Galway captain.

The All-Star forward will wear the armband next year as Anthony Cunningham’s hurlers look to bounce back from a disappointing 2013.

“It didn’t even enter my head to be honest,” he told TheScore.ie. “It was the last thing I’d ever think about.”

Veteran defender Fergal Moore captained the side during Cunningham’s first two years as manager.

But Canning takes over next season, although vice-captain David Burke may be asked to deputise for the opening rounds of the league if he is still involved with Portumna in the AIB Club Championship.

“Fergal was a great captain,” Canning said. “He’s still a great leader within the group and he’ll be doing it as much as I will for next year.

“[Anthony] just rang me up and asked me to take on the captaincy for the year, and I said I would.

It’s something that you dream of when you’re growing up as a young guy and I’m just lucky enough to get the chance now. Hopefully I can do it justice.

Canning has long been Galway’s star forward and led the way with 1-25 in their three Championship games this summer.

The captaincy will add to the spotlight next season but he says there are plenty of dressing room leaders to help him in the role.

“It’s a new kind of pressure in a way but I haven’t really thought about it. I’m fairly easygoing with it anyway.

There’ll be lots of other guys to talk and stuff like that.

I wouldn’t be very vocal anyway so it’ll be more about leading by example and making sure that everything’s alright and everybody is going in the one direction.

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