Canavan confident despite absence from training

PETER CANAVAN is confident of leading Tyrone into the All-Ireland SFC final – despite the fact he has yet to resume training with the squad.

Canavan played only eight minutes of the semi-final against Kerry before being forced off with damaged ankle ligaments and he had his leg in plaster for a week afterwards. Since then, he has been getting intensive treatment and it seems to be working for him.

“It’s improving. I have not been able to do any training with the team,” he said. “But, I am hoping that by the weekend I will be able to get out and do a bit of work.

“What’s encouraging is the ankle is improving and getting stronger every day.

“I am doing quite a bit of work on my own and hopefully it will be all right.

“I have a bit of time yet. I hope it will be okay.”

Tyrone have no injury worries as they prepare for their first All-Ireland final since 1995, when they lost by a point to Dublin. Canavan is one of three players who were involved then, the others being Gerard Cavlan (who was a substitute) and Chris Lawn, who played at full-back.

Canavan, meanwhile, hopes that win or lose it won’t take Tyrone as long again to get back to another final. “If it takes another seven or eight years I won’t be around,” he joked.

John O’Leary will not be in charge of Wicklow’s footballers next year, after the former Dublin goalkeeper withdrew his name from the race.

O’Leary has been in charge of the Garden County’s footballers for the last two years but he was asked to reapply, and go through an interview process like all other candidates, to continue on in the job.

Although the former All-Ireland winner insists he withdrew because of personal reasons and business commitments, it is believed he was disappointed at being asked to go through the interview process.