Cooney was added to the Galway senior team in advance of the 2012 National League.
He made his first appearance on 26 February 2012 when he came on as a substitute from Conor Cooney at right wing-forward in a 0-20 to 0-13 defeat of Dublin.
On 8 July 2012, Cooney won a Leinster Championship medal in his debut game after coming on as a substitute for Cyril Donnellan in a 2-21 to 2-12 defeat of Kilkenny in the final.
On 9 September 2012, he started the All-Ireland final against Kilkenny on the bench but was introduced as a substitute for Niall Burke in the 0-19 to 2-13 draw.
The replay on 30 September 2012 saw Cooney come on as a substitute for Niall Donoghue, however, Galway were defeated by 3-22 to 3-11.

On 7 July 2013, Cooney lined out at left wing-back when Galway suffered a 2-25 to 2-13 defeat by Dublin in the Leinster final.

Cooney was selected as a substitute when Galway faced Kilkenny in the Leinster final on 5 July 2015.
He came on as a substitute for Aidan Harte in the 1-25 to 2-15 defeat.
On 6 September 2015, Cooney was an unused substitute when Galway sufered a 1-22 to 1-18 defeat by Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final.

On 3 July 2016, Cooney scored two points from centre-forward in Galway's 1-26 to 0-22 defeat by Kilkenny in the Leinster final.

On 22 April 2017, Cooney lined out at left wing-forward when Galway faced Tipperary in the National League final.
He was held scoreless but ended the game with a winners' medal following the 3-21 to 0-14 victory.
The subsequent championship saw Galway qualify for a Leinster final meeting with Wexford.
Cooney scored five points and collected a second winner's medal after the 0-29 to 1-17 victory.
On 3 September 2017, Canning was at right wing-forward when Galway faced Waterford in the All-Ireland final.
He scored three points in the 0-26 to 2-17 victory and a first All-Ireland Championship for Galway in 29 years.

On 1 July 2018, Cooney scored a point from play in Galway's 0-18 apiece draw with Kilkenny in the Leinster final.
The replay a week later saw him collect a third provincial medal after scoring a point in Galway's 1-28 to 3-15 victory.
On 19 August 2018, Canning was at right wing-forward when Galway faced Limerick in the All-Ireland final.
He scored three points during the game, however, Limerick won their first title in 45 years after a 3-16 to 2-18 victory.
Cooney was added to the Galway senior team in advance of the 2012 National League. He made his first appearance on 26 February 2012 when he came on as a substitute from Conor Cooney at right wing-forward in a 0-20 to 0-13 defeat of Dublin. On 8 July 2012, Cooney won a Leinster Championship medal in his debut game after coming on as a substitute for Cyril Donnellan in a 2-21 to 2-12 defeat of Kilkenny in the final. On 9 September 2012, he started the All-Ireland final against Kilkenny on the bench but was introduced as a substitute for Niall Burke in the 0-19 to 2-13 draw. The replay on 30 September 2012 saw Cooney come on as a substitute for Niall Donoghue, however, Galway were defeated by 3-22 to 3-11.
On 7 July 2013, Cooney lined out at left wing-back when Galway suffered a 2-25 to 2-13 defeat by Dublin in the Leinster final.
Cooney was selected as a substitute when Galway faced Kilkenny in the Leinster final on 5 July 2015. He came on as a substitute for Aidan Harte in the 1-25 to 2-15 defeat. On 6 September 2015, Cooney was an unused substitute when Galway sufered a 1-22 to 1-18 defeat by Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final.
On 3 July 2016, Cooney scored two points from centre-forward in Galway's 1-26 to 0-22 defeat by Kilkenny in the Leinster final. 
On 22 April 2017, Cooney lined out at left wing-forward when Galway faced Tipperary in the National League final. He was held scoreless but ended the game with a winners' medal following the 3-21 to 0-14 victory. The subsequent championship saw Galway qualify for a Leinster final meeting with Wexford. Cooney scored five points and collected a second winner's medal after the 0-29 to 1-17 victory. On 3 September 2017, Canning was at right wing-forward when Galway faced Waterford in the All-Ireland final. He scored three points in the 0-26 to 2-17 victory and a first All-Ireland Championship for Galway in 29 years.
On 1 July 2018, Cooney scored a point from play in Galway's 0-18 apiece draw with Kilkenny in the Leinster final. The replay a week later saw him collect a third provincial medal after scoring a point in Galway's 1-28 to 3-15 victory. On 19 August 2018, Canning was at right wing-forward when Galway faced Limerick in the All-Ireland final. He scored three points during the game, however, Limerick won their first title in 45 years after a 3-16 to 2-18 victory.
Joseph Cooney