Galway celebrated a unique double last week when Padraic Joyce and Joe Canning were named the Vodafone sponsored GAA All-Stars footballer and hurler of the month for July.

UNIQUE DOUBLE . . . Galway hurler Joe Canning and footballer Padraic Joyce being presented with their Vodafone player of the month awards by Carolan Lennon, Consumer Marketing Director, Vodafone. Photo: Stephen McCarthy/SPORTSFILE

This is the first time since the monthly awards were expanded to include both codes in 2000 that two players from the same county taken both awards in the same month.

The Vodafone sponsored GAA All-Stars awards were presented at the Westbury Hotel in Dublin last week and it is the second monthly award for Padraic Joyce. The Killererin star previously won the award in April 2004 and it adds to the long sting of awards picked up by the Galway veteran.

Joyce first hit the limelight in 1994 when he captained St Jarlath's College to the All-Ireland title and he went on to win two All-Ireland senior football titles with Galway, a Sigerson Cup medal with Tralee IT, captained Ireland to a record International Rules victory against Australia in 2004. Joyce was awarded three All Star Awards and was Footballer of the Year in 2001.

This season Joyce rolled back the years when leading Galway to victory in the Connacht final against Mayo, scoring 1-3 and orchestrating the game from centre half forward.

Joe Canning receives his accolade for his outstanding performance against Cork when he scored 2-12. It still wasn't enough for Galway to win but it confirmed the emergence of a special talent.

Joe, who joins his brother Ollie on the monthly roll of honour, has already captured two All-Ireland minor hurling titles and an All Ireland Under-21 title. Canning also has a Fitzgibbon Cup medal with Limerick IT and two All-Ireland club titles with Portumna in 2006 and 2008.

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