A fitting tribute to a Red Hand legend

FORGET that he gained his award at the expense of Brian McGuigan because no blame could be attached to Peter Canavan for the machinations of the allstar selectors.

What is beyond dispute is the enormous contribution Canavan made to Tyrone's All-Ireland success, arguably greater than he did as captain in their first triumph two years ago.

I have chosen him above several other stars of Gaelic games like Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, Colm Cooper and Henry Shefflin. Looking beyond the world of gaelic games, I would gladly have opted for top athlete Paula Radcliffe who epitomises everything that's good and wholesome about sport. And, because I delighted so much in her marathon victory at the world championships in Helsinki, after her embarrassing failure in last year's Olympics. However, I simply don't know enough to do her justice.

Of course, Peter Canavan has now retired from the sport that he graced for so long. So, this is as much a valedictory vote as a tribute to what he achieved this year for his team and himself.

It's ironic that it was in Canavan's last season that he established a new scoring record in Ulster, with his 1-7 in the replay against Cavan bringing his career total in the province to 8-185 (209 points). That put him five points clear of Down legend Paddy Doherty, who scored 15-159 in a 17-year career (1954 to 1971).

For a player who was the driving force of Tyrone's attack for over ten years, it was noteworthy that Canavan gained his greatest success on the playing field at the tail-end of his career.

For longer than he would wish to remember, Canavan shouldered the main responsibility of 'carrying' that Tyrone attack and that when he was in form, the team did well. But, over a short period of time, that scenario changed, with the development of the team itself and the blossoming of talents like Brian Dooher, Stephen O'Neill and Brian McGuigan. Against that background, it's worth recalling that while Canavan played in nine games in this year's campaign, he came in as a substitute in five of them. He lasted only minutes in the Ulster final replay, when he was controversially sent off, and illness kept him out of the second game against Dublin.

And, just like in 2003, after starting in this year's All-Ireland final against Kerry, Canavan was taken off at half-time and re-introduced for the last fifteen minutes.

Two years ago, in the final against Armagh, he scored five points from frees, in the first half, which were to prove invaluable in 'settling' the team and ultimately inspiring them to victory. This time, his primary contribution was a goal, just before half-time, set up for him by his former pupil Owen Mulligan and scored with typical Canavan aplomb past Diarmuid Murphy.

This was to prove the defining moment of that game. And, during the short period he was on at the finish, Canavan kicked a marvellous score from an acute angle on the left, which helped keep the door shut on the Munster champions.

Finally, who could forget his winning point in the All-Ireland semi-final game against Armagh when Tyrone were awarded a free at the end of the match and his team-mates urged him to take the kick instead of Mulligan? Canavan's shot sailed high between the posts and Tyrone were through to another final.