Joseph Canning is an Irish hurler who plays for club side Portumna and previously at inter-county level with the Galway senior hurling team. Often considered one of the greatest players of his generation and widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers of all time, Canning enjoyed a 14-season career with the Galway senior hurling team, won five All-Stars and was named GAA-GPA Hurler of the Year in 2017. He won seven major trophies in his inter-county career, including one All-Ireland Championship, three Leinster Championships and three National Hurling Leagues. A prolific scorer from play and placed balls, Canning holds the record for most sideline cuts scored (28) and is the championship's all-time top scorer with 27 goals and 486 points. His 62 championship appearances is a Galway record.

The Galway county hurling team represents Galway in hurling and is governed by Galway GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The team competes in the three major annual inter-county competitions; the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship and the National Hurling League. It formerly competed in the abolished Connacht Senior Hurling Championship, winning the last title in 1999.