Peter Canavan

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Peter Canavan
Personal information
Sport Gaelic football
Irish Name Peadar Ó Ceannabháin
Date of birth April 9, 1971 (1971-04-09) (age 37)
Place of birth Tyrone , Northern Ireland
Height 5 ft 09 in (1.75 m)
Nickname(s) Peter 'The Great',[1][2]
'Wee Peter'
Occupation Teacher[3]
Club information
Club Errigal Ciarán
Position Forward
Club(s)*
Club Years Apps (scores)
Errigal Ciarán 1990–2007
Club Titles
Tyrone Titles 6
Ulster Titles 2
Inter-County
County Tyrone
Position Forward
Inter-County(ies)**
County Years Apps (scores)
Tyrone 1989–2005 49 (9–191 (218))[4]
Senior Inter-County Titles
Ulster Titles 4
All-Ireland 2
NFL 2
All Stars 6

* club appearances and scores
correct as of (15:04, 10 January 2007 (UTC)))[5].
**Inter County team apps and scores correct
as of (22:03, 21 December 2006 (UTC))[5].

Peter Canavan (born April 9, 1971) is a former Gaelic football player for Tyrone, and is one of the most decorated players in the game's history. He represented Ireland in the International Rules Series on several occasions from 1998 until 2000.[6]

After sixteen years on the senior inter-county scene, and with two All-Ireland Senior Championship Medals, six All Stars (more than any other Ulster player, and joint third overall),[7] four Ulster titles, and several under-age and club championship medals to his name, he is considered one of the great players of the last twenty years by commentators such as John Haughey of the BBC.[8][9]

His scoring record of 218 points is the second highest of all time in the Ulster Senior Football Championship.[4] His early high scoring rate, when he would often be Tyrone's best performer[10]—particularly in the 1995 All-Ireland final when he scored eleven of Tyrone's twelve points—led to claims that Tyrone was a "one-man show";[11][12] however, the continued emergence of skilled players such as Brian Dooher and Stephen O'Neill dissipated that criticism.

Canavan's career features many examples of indiscipline,[13] including on-pitch scuffles with other players.

Contents

[edit] Personal life

Canavan was the tenth of eleven children.[2] His older brother, Pascal, played with him on the Tyrone panel for most of the 1990s. He is married to Finola, and has four children, Áine, Claire, Darragh and Ruairi,[14] and has been a Physical Education teacher in Holy Trinity College, Cookstown, throughout most of his career.[15] While there, he taught Eoin Mulligan his point-taking technique, and the pair have been known in the media as 'master and student' ever since, particularly by television commentators.[16] He also writes a column for the Gaelic games magazine, Hogan Stand[17] and the Northern Ireland edition of The Daily Mirror.[18] In 2008, Canavan joined TV3 as a football pundit for their first year of broadcasting live GAA matches.[19]

In 2003, just over a week before Tyrone's Ulster final appearance against Down, Canavan's father, Seán, died. It came as a shock to Canavan, who had thought his father (who was already in hospital) was getting better. He decided to play in the match, stating that he knew, subconsciously "[he] was going to be playing in the Ulster final all along and Daddy certainly wouldn't have wanted [him] to do anything but play."[20]

Canavan has suffered from asthma since he was a child, and has battled throughout his career to control the ailment. He told the Asthma Society of Ireland, "I thought to myself, this is something that I am just going to have to put up with." In later years, however, improved medication has afforded Canavan what he described as, "a better quality of life".[21]

[edit] Under-age career

In order to play for an inter-county GAA team, Canavan had to work around a Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) bylaw, due to a dispute in his parish, Errigal Ciarán. Two clubs claimed to represent the parish, the established Ballygawley St. Ciaran's club and the newly-formed club, then called Errigal Ciaran Naomh Malachai. Players from the Errigal team were not recognised as being GAA members, because the club failed to register correctly. Canavan registered as a member of the Killyclogher hurling club, even though he didn't play the sport, just so he would be eligible for selection for the Tyrone minors. Prior to that, he had not played legitimate club football, but had forged his way onto the Tyrone under-age teams with his performances at school level. The two clubs united under the banner of Errigal Ciaran two years later.[22]

In 1988, Canavan won the Ulster minor Championship, but lost in the All-Ireland semi-final to Kerry. Canavan captained Tyrone to two All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championships (U-21) titles in 1991 and 1992, having been on the team which lost the 1990 final, again to Kerry.[3] In four years as an U-21 player, Canavan scored 13-53 (13 goals and 53 points—each goal equals 3 points; 13 x 3 + 53 = 92 points, see GAA scoring rules) for Tyrone .[5] By the time he was twenty, he was already an automatic choice in the senior panel.

[edit] Early senior career

Canavan's name was already known around Tyrone because of his exploits for the U-21 team,[8] but he started to make an impact in the Ulster Senior Football Championship in 1994. He was the top scorer in Ulster,[4] earning him his first All Star, at the age of 23.[23]

Throughout the 1995 championship, Canavan had spearheaded Tyrone's march to the final, with round after round of massive scoring exploits. Against Derry in the Ulster Semi-Final, he scored 0–8, and against Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final, he scored 1–7.[24] He scored eleven of Tyrone's twelve points in the All-Ireland Final, despite ending up on the losing side to Dublin. The game was remembered as contentious for Tyrone fans, for the fact that a point that would have equalised the match in the dying seconds was controversially disallowed, because the blind-sided referee deemed Canavan to have touched the ball on the ground.[11] He was the top scorer in Ireland that year, with a total of 1–38,[5] earning him the inaugural Footballer of the Year title.[23] The fact that Canavan's scoring tally was so far ahead of his peers on the team led to suggestions that Tyrone were depending too heavily on him.[11] In 1996, Canavan was handed the captaincy of Tyrone, and was Ulster's leading scorer for the third year in a row,[4] and subsequently earned his third successive All Star award.[23] Tyrone reached the All-Ireland semi-final against Meath, but Canavan was one of six Tyrone players to sustain injuries that day, which some Tyrone fans attribute to Meath's heavy-handedness. Canavan's injury was so severe that he was still feeling the effects for over a year.[8] Speculation abounds as to whether he had been playing on a broken foot.[25]

[edit] 1997–2000: International stage

Canavan represented Ireland in the inaugural International Rules Series in 1998 against Australia. In 1999, he was named vice-captain of the team for the tour to Australia, and Ireland came away convincing winners, with Canavan scoring eleven points in the first test in Adelaide, South Australia.[6] In 2000, Canavan was sent off in the second test, after fighting Australian Jason Akermanis. He was banned for one match, which wouldn't be played until the next year, so he ruled himself out of the next series.[26] In five tests Canavan scored 37 points, becoming one of the few Irish players to leave their mark on the Australian supporters.[27][28]

[edit] Late senior career

Canavan's influence may be best illustrated by Tyrone's 2002 campaign. Whenever he was on the pitch, the team seemed like All-Ireland title contenders, but he was unable to play in the All-Ireland quarter final, against Sligo. Tyrone were heavy favourites,[25] but ended up losing the match. Canavan won his fourth All Star that year, the only Tyrone player to do so, which may go some way to emphasizing the value of his presence on the team.[23] This also made him Tyrone's most represented player on the All Star Roll of Honour, overtaking Eugene McKenna, his manager at the time.[29]

[edit] 2003: Championship glory

In 2003, Peter 'The Great' finally shook off his tag as 'the greatest player never to win an All-Ireland',[15] captaining Tyrone to All-Ireland glory against neighbouring rivals, Armagh. As he approached the podium on the Hogan Stand, his nervousness was visible, and after being handed the trophy, he made an emotional speech about how he had to watch other Ulster teams lift the Sam Maguire Cup, but "to eventually win it is something else."[30]

Canavan holding aloft the Sam Maguire in Croke Park, 28th September 2003
Canavan holding aloft the Sam Maguire in Croke Park, 28th September 2003

Canavan amassed a total of 1–48 (51 points) over the course of the Championship.[31] Among his more notable performances of the year included an eight-point haul in the replayed first round match against Derry,[32] and in the replayed Ulster Final, Canavan scored eleven points.[33] This scoring tally earned him a fifth All Star.[23]

In the Ulster final against Down, Canavan was playing just over a week after the passing of his father. He remarked in his autobiography that he feared Tyrone were going to lose by one of the biggest margins in Ulster Championship history, if they didn't stem the flow of the Down attack.[34][35] When Tyrone were awarded a penalty, Canavan stepped up, due to Stephen O'Neill (the first choice penalty-taker) being on the bench. He took the kick, and managed to find the net. He later described the kick as "the most important of my career," citing the fact that if Tyrone had been heavily beaten, they probably wouldn't have been able to pick themselves up to play in the 'back door' qualifier series.[36]

Canavan (right) receives his fifth All Star award from then GAA President, Seán Kelly
Canavan (right) receives his fifth All Star award from then GAA President, Seán Kelly

His appearance in the final was remarkable for the fact that he was the top scorer of the day with five points,[31] despite having suffered an ankle injury in the previous match, and was not expected (or advised) to play.[8] He started the match and was taken off before half time. During the break, and even some way into the second half, he was receiving treatment to his ankle, including pain-killing injections.
With seven minutes remaining, he was reintroduced by manager Mickey Harte, a shrewd—albeit necessary—move, considering Canavan was the only member of the team who had played in an All-Ireland final before. This reintroduction, while not the first time it had happened (blood substitutions had been used sporadically, for example), was seen as one of the greatest moments in the GAA in the last forty years,[37] a tribute to both the player's legacy and inspiration, and the manager's tactical superiority.

[edit] Northern Ireland Sports Personality of the Year

Canavan was voted Northern Ireland Sports Personality of the Year,[38] which is a regional award of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. Following an email campaign throughout Ireland, Canavan was a surprising early forerunner for the national award, despite the fact that Gaelic games have very little exposure on the British mainland.[39]

[edit] 2005: Championship swan song

Canavan relinquished his captaincy to the late Cormac McAnallen after the 2003 Championship, and had been used mostly as an 'impact substitute' throughout the year in 2005—brought on to either unsettle the opposition, or rally his teammates.[8]

His fiery temperament was displayed early in the year, when he was notoriously sent off within a minute of coming on as a substitute in the Ulster Final replay replay against Armagh.[40] This decision was highly criticised and the referee later admitted he had made a mistake with the sending off.[41]

He also displayed how important his experience was to the team in the semi-final against Armagh (who were meeting Tyrone for the third time that year), when, after a very taut match, the two well-matched teams were heading for a draw. Tyrone won a free kick in the last seconds, and Canavan, a substitution, took the responsibility of the pressure kick and slotted the ball over the bar in the last kick of the game, winning the match for Tyrone.[42] Kevin McStay, a former Mayo player, described it as the point of the season, despite the kick being from a relatively straightforward position.[43]

Canavan (13, white) drilling home Tyrone's winning goal in the 2005 All-Ireland final
Canavan (13, white) drilling home Tyrone's winning goal in the 2005 All-Ireland final

Despite being used as an 'impact substitute' for most of the season, Mickey Harte chose Canavan on the starting line-up of the All Ireland final. This proved to be a great tactical decision for Tyrone as he was instrumental in the defeat of Kerry, scoring Tyrone's only goal, winning on a scoreline of 1–16 to 2–10.[44] He received a pass from Eoin Mulligan on the edge of the area, and drilled a low shot past two Kerry defenders and the goalkeeper.

[edit] Other awards

Canavan was part of both Tyrone sides that won the National Football League title two years in a row—in 2002 and 2003[8]—and he competed in the 1992 final against Derry. His success in other competitions include five Railway Cups, two Vocational Schools titles, and one Dr. McKenna Cup.[5]

In 2003, Canavan became the first GAA star to gain an honorary doctorate from the University of Ulster, which he was awarded along with David Humphreys, the Ulster and Ireland rugby player.[15]

[edit] All Stars

Canavan won three consecutive GAA All Star awards from 1994 through 1996 and the Player of the Year award in 1995. He also received three GAA All-star awards in the 2000s. One in 2002 and another in 2003, the year of his first All-Ireland win. He then went on to win his final Gaelic Athletic Association All Star in 2005, before his inter-county retirement.

[edit] Club career

He has continued to play at club level for Errigal Ciarán, and is enjoying success at this level. Ironically, in 2006, Canavan won his first Tyrone All Star for his performances in the club championship.[45] The club has a rich history during the years Canavan has played, winning six Tyrone Senior Club titles and two Ulster Club Championships.[46]. Canavan's club career spanned 17 years at senior level , with his final year playing the thirds team.

[edit] Inter-county retirement

Canavan retired from Inter-county football in 2005, ending a sixteen-year tenure in Senior championship football.[47] He said of his decision, "I have spent enough time on the treatment table", referring to his die-hard habit of playing through potentially career-threatening injuries, as he had done in 1996 and 2003. Canavan's appearance in the 2005 final (his last game for Tyrone), was his forty-ninth Championship match. In January 2007, Canavan rounded off his career by captaining the 2005 All Stars team in an exhibition game in Dubai against the 2006 All Stars team and won the match 4–13 to 3–10.[48]

[edit] Disciplinary problems

Discipline has been an underlying problem in Canavan's career, which at times threatened to overshadow his achievements. Jack O'Connor, Kerry's manager in the 2005 All-Ireland final, suggested Canavan tackled Colm Cooper off the ball, preventing him getting into a goal-scoring position.[49] This action was also criticised by The Sunday Tribune journalist, Kieran Shannon.[50]

A particularly notorious incident took place after a club match in 1989, in which Canavan had suffered a broken jaw. In what appeared to be a dressing room brawl after the match had finished, the alleged perpetrator received bad facial injuries. It is unclear as to what involvement, if any, Canavan had in the brawl, but his name is often connected with the incident.[39]

However, this indiscipline could not be said to have always been at his instigation, as he was usually singled out for the attention of the tougher tacklers of opposition teams because of his skill.[51][52]

Gaelic games
Preceded by
First year awarded		 All Stars Footballer of the Year
1995		 Succeeded by
Martin O'Connell
(Meath)
Preceded by
Kieran McGeeney
(Armagh)		 All-Ireland Football Final
winning captain
2003		 Succeeded by
Dara Ó Cinnéide
(Kerry)
Preceded by
Kieran McGeeney
(Armagh)		 Texaco Footballer of the Year
2003		 Succeeded by
Colm Cooper
(Kerry)
v • d • e
Irish News Ulster All Stars Team of the Decade (1995-2004)
1 M. McVeigh  2 K. McKeever  3 T. Scullion  4 S.M. Lockhart  5 D. Diver  6 K. McGeeney  7 P. McFlynn  8 A. Tohill  9 S. Cavanagh  10 B. Dooher  11 G. Blaney  12 O. McConville  13 M. Linden  14 P. Canavan  15 S. McDonnell 

[edit] References

  1. ^ O'Sullivan, Jim (2004-06-19), “Peter the Great ready to answer Tyrone's call”, The Irish Examiner, <http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2004/06/19/story757189885.asp> 
  2. ^ a b Walsh, David (1996-08-28), “Gaelic games”, The Sunday Times 
  3. ^ a b “Player Profiles - Tyrone”, 2005 All-Ireland Final Match Programme (DBA Publishing), 2005-09-25 
  4. ^ a b c d Ulster's hot-shots. BBC Sport (2006-07-18). Retrieved on 2007-01-25.
  5. ^ a b c d e Curran, Kenny (September 2005). "Will this All-Ireland be the last chapter in the Canavan story?". Team Talk (45): 14–19. All-Star Publications, Ltd.. 
  6. ^ a b Ireland are go!. Hogan Stand (1999-10-30). Retrieved on 2007-01-25.
  7. ^ Martin Breheny (2005-11-26). Big three sweep awards boards. Irish Independent Online. Retrieved on 2007-01-25.
  8. ^ a b c d e f John Haughey (2005-09-26). Canavan's remarkable career. BBC Sport. Retrieved on 2007-01-25.
  9. ^ 'Press Box Lad' (2003-10-03). Two Bald Eagles: Peter The Great and Lion Hearted Leo. An Fear Rua. Retrieved on 2007-01-25.
  10. ^ Jerome Quinn (2002-05-27). Peter's loss lamented. Retrieved on 2007-04-29.
  11. ^ a b c Sean Ryan (2005-08-07). Tyrone and Canavan came up short in 'eyesore' final. Irish Independent. Retrieved on 2007-01-25.
  12. ^ “Gormley chases double with help from Canavan”, Belfast Telegraph, June 24, 1996 
  13. ^ Keys, Colm (April 30), “TYRONE ACE CANAVAN'S JAW BROKEN”, The Mirror: 36 
  14. ^ Honorees Index - Peter Canavan. Flax Trust International. Retrieved on 2008-05-22.
  15. ^ a b c University To Honour Ulster Sporting Heroes Canavan And Humphreys. University of Ulster (2003-10-30). Retrieved on 2007-01-25.
  16. ^ Learning at school. BBC Sport. Retrieved on 2007-05-02.
  17. ^ Canavan's Hogan Stand column regarding the decision by the GAA to axe Rule 42. Hogan Stand (2005-05-10). Retrieved on 2007-01-25.
  18. ^ Peter Canavan, WHEN GEEZER EXPLODED IT SHOOK US UP, The Daily Mirror, <http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/northernireland/2006/11/03/football-when-geezer-exploded-it-shook-us-up-89520-18037987/>. Retrieved on 26 August 2007 
  19. ^ TV3 press release (2008-05-15), TV3 ANNOUNCES GAA LINE UP FOR THE 2008 CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON, TV3 Ireland, <http://www.tv3.ie/media.php?action=news&id=153>. Retrieved on 2008-05-22 
  20. ^ Canavan, Peter (2004). Every Step We Took. 2003 - A Football Odyssey. Omagh, Northern Ireland: All Star Print Ltd., 46. ISBN 0-9546616-0-5. 
  21. ^ Peter Canavan - Life With Asthma. irishhealth.com. Retrieved on 2007-01-25.
  22. ^ Canavan biography in Hogan Stand magazine. Hogan Stand (1991-11-08). Retrieved on 2007-01-25.
  23. ^ a b c d e FOOTBALL ALL STARS. Hogan Stand. Retrieved on 2007-01-25.
  24. ^ The Artful Manager. Culture Northern Ireland (2006-04-14). Retrieved on 2007-05-10.
  25. ^ a b Tyrone can maintain progress. BBC Sport (2002-07-21). Retrieved on 2007-01-25.
  26. ^ Canavan out of Rules series. BBC Sport (2001-09-07). Retrieved on 2007-02-22.
  27. ^ 'Peter P' (2006-01-07). GAA debates International Rules, AFL recruiting, and own international dimension. World Footy News. Retrieved on 2007-04-23.
  28. ^ Dermott Brereton (2006-04-28). Backpacker (why Jason should take a hike into defence). Herald Sun. Retrieved on 2007-04-29.
  29. ^ Tyrone Profile, Hogan Stand, <http://www.hoganstand.com/Tyrone/Profile.aspx>. Retrieved on 17 May 2007 
  30. ^ Tyrone are All-Ireland champions, BBC Sport, 2003-09-28, <http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/low/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/3147218.stm>. Retrieved on 17 May 2007 
  31. ^ a b Captain fantastic Canavan scoops readers' top award. Irish Independent (2004-01-20). Retrieved on 2007-04-29.
  32. ^ Tyrone destroy dismal Derry. RTÉ Sport (2003-05-24). Retrieved on 2007-03-04.
  33. ^ Disappointing Down no match for silky Tyrone. RTÉ Sport (2003-07-20). Retrieved on 2007-03-04.
  34. ^ Clones thriller ends in draw. BBC Sport (2003-07-13). Retrieved on 2007-01-25.
  35. ^ Canavan, Peter (2004). Every Step We Took. 2003 - Football Odyssey. Omagh, Northern Ireland: All Star Print Ltd., 48. ISBN 0-9546616-0-5. 
  36. ^ Canavan, Peter (2004). Every Step We Took. 2003 - Football Odyssey. Omagh, Northern Ireland: All Star Print Ltd., 51. ISBN 0-9546616-0-5. 
  37. ^ Aidan Begley (April 2005), Magic Moments to Mark The Start of a New Championship, The Harp, <http://www.theharpnews.com/issues/april_05/irish_gaa.html>. Retrieved on 2008-05-22 
  38. ^ Canavan wins BBC award (2003-12-06). Retrieved on 2007-01-25.
  39. ^ a b Whole of Ireland Behind Peter Canavan's BBC Sports Personality of the Year Campaign (2003-12-10). Retrieved on 2007-01-25.
  40. ^ Armagh take Ulster title in scrappy affair. RTÉ Sport (2005-07-23). Retrieved on 2007-03-04.
  41. ^ Collins admits red card error. Hogan Stand (2005-07-25). Retrieved on 2007-01-25.
  42. ^ Armagh 1-12 1-13 Tyrone ALL-IRELAND SEMI-FINAL. BBC Sport (2005-09-04). Retrieved on 2007-01-25.
  43. ^ KEVIN McSTAY COLUMN. Hogan Stand (21 December 2005). Retrieved on 2007-04-02.
  44. ^ Tyrone triumph in Croker decider. BBC Sport (2005-09-25). Retrieved on 2007-01-25.
  45. ^ Canavan wins first Tyrone All-Star. Hogan Stand (2006-12-20). Retrieved on 2007-01-25.
  46. ^ Errigal Ciaran achievements. Retrieved on 2007-01-25.
  47. ^ Lawn joins Canavan in retirement. BBC Sport (2005-09-26). Retrieved on 2007-01-25.
  48. ^ 2005 All Stars outclass 2006 vintage. RTÉ Sport (2007-01-27). Retrieved on 2007-01-27.
  49. ^ O'Connor, Jack (4 July 2007). Keys to the Kingdom. Penguin Ireland. ISBN 1844881539. 
  50. ^ Shannon, Keiran (February 12 2006), “A history of violence”, The Sunday Tribune, <http://www.tribune.ie/2006/02/12/72583.html> 
  51. ^ Aidan Kilpatrick (2003-09-04). Kerry team filled tanks with negativity before big game. the-kingdom.ie. Retrieved on 2007-03-04.
  52. ^ Jerome Quinn (2001-09-26). My end of season awards. BBC Sport. Retrieved on 2007-05-05.

[edit] External links