Former Galway star Joe Canning believes the Tribesmen can deliver against Cork in this weekend’s All-Ireland semi-final.

The Rebels unsurprisingly head into the game as favourites, as has been the case for much of the history of Galway and Cork crossing paths in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.

Cork have won 25 of the last 32 matches between the sides, but Galway are seeking a sixth win on the spin against the men in red, their last defeat coming in 2008, and Joe Canning believes Galway go into the game without as much pressure as the Rebels.

‘Winning Leinster was huge,’ Canning said. ‘It was 2018 when we last won it [the Leinster Championship], so for the group of players, especially the older ones, never mind the younger guys, to win is a big pressure off the shoulders.

‘Galway go into the semi-final without as much pressure as before, and Cork are seen by many, along with Limerick, as the two best teams in the country. They can have a right cut off it.

‘They are there on merit. They have only lost once this year [Leinster round-robin loss to Dublin]. They are trucking along nicely. They are Leinster champions and not to be disrespected in any way. I’d say they are quietly confident.’

Canning still admits that Cork are one of the best teams in the country, and all things being equal, he’d expect Ben O’Connor’s men to take their place in the final.

‘We’ll see on Saturday; we don’t really know yet,’ Canning said. ‘This is the first massive, massive test [for Galway]. Playing a Munster team and one of the All-Ireland favourites is huge. Hopefully, they just perform on the day.

‘Cork probably haven’t hit their top stride yet, but Galway need everything to go their way and Cork to be off it a little bit.’