Joe Canning has announced his retirement from inter-county hurling at the age of 32.
The Galway forward has made his decision public following the Tribesmen's 1-30 to 3-20 defeat to Waterford in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship last week.
Canning, who overtook Henry Shefflin as the Championship's all-time top-scorer with a 0-9 tally against the Déise, has cited injuries as the primary reason for his retirement.
"I knew it was going to happen this year, I just didn’t think it was going to be Saturday evening," the Portumna star revealed at the Bord Gáis Energy 2021 #HurlingToTheCore Media Day.
"If you go into a championship game expecting not to win, you might as well not tog out in the first place.
"I had nothing prepared. Everyone dreams about a lovely way to go out, and in my own head it was going to be 22 August, winning an All-Ireland."
2017 Hurler of the Year Canning told his teammates of his decision following Galway's loss to Waterford at Semple Stadium, and the 32-year-old went into detail on his injuries.
"I want to be able to train the whole time and offer the same as everybody else. I have had a few serious injuries over the past few years. When you are nursing injuries, you can't get a good run at it, particularly this year in the league with my thumb. The hamstring went. My finger, my heel."
Canning retires from the inter-county scene as one of hurling's all-time greats.
He was instrumental in Galway's All-Ireland triumph in 2017, and also won five All Stars and three Leinster titles in a stellar career.
Canning will now focus his attention on his club career with Portumna.