Canavan will know his fate after scan

PETER CANAVAN will know today what he has to do to be ready for the All-Ireland final on September 28.

The Tyrone talisman was forced out of yesterday's semi-final after only 13 minutes with an ankle injury.

He watched the second half on crutches, and while he was in tears celebrating Tyrone's 0-13 to 0-6 success, he was less cheerful about his final prospects. "I will know better after the scan. It is too early to tell at the moment how bad the injury is," he said. The legendary full-forward has channelled his whole career into leading Tyrone to their first All-Ireland. If he misses the final, it will be the saddest story of the summer.

Canavan realised when he fell that the injury was severe. "It is badly swollen at the minute. That was the ankle that I hurt in the '96 semi-final. I am not too sure what kind of damage is done to it. I thought it was '96 all over again. I couldn't believe it. I had to wait until an All-Ireland semi-final for that to happen again. I have five weeks to sort it out, so all we can be is hopeful." Canavan had been in the wars before misfortune struck. In the corridors of Croker afterwards, there was still blood seeping from the wound on his head. "I was running into one of the Kerry defenders. I think it was my fault more than his and I was just caught by an elbow. I got a couple of stitches, but that is not what is worrying me at the moment."

Meanwhile, GAA president Seán Kelly has fired a broadside at RTÉ for the "unbalanced" analysis of the player endorsement row on last week's Sunday Game show. The programme last night clarified the comments of analysts Peter Finnerty and Tomás Mulcahy last night, but Mr Kelly insisted: "Right of reply on the night is a reasonable requirement." And he warned that any acrimony could affect future discussions on TV rights. "There is a little matter of a contract to be negotiated and signed with RTÉ. Lesson learned now for the exam!"

The GAA president also appeared to hold out an olive branch yesterday to the GPA over the festering player representation dispute. He urged the players' body to remember that everyone was part of the GAA family.

"We don't want a them and us situation. A round-table conference with that as a theme might be very useful," he added.