Lawn follows Canavan into retirement

In what was an expected move, experienced Tyrone defender Chris Lawn has followed Peter Canavan's suit and announced his retirement from inter-county football as a double All-Ireland winner.

The Moortown St Malachy's clubman, who turned 33 in July, came on as a substitute in yesterday's All-Ireland SFC final win for the Red Hands over champions Kerry.

Full-back Lawn enjoyed a tremendous campaign, putting in particularly strong displays in Tyrone's three championship outings against their Ulster rivals Armagh this summer.

Incredibly, Lawn, who captained Tyrone during the 2000 championship, made his senior inter-county debut all the way back in 1991 when yesterday's man-of-the-match Owen Mulligan was only 10!

Lawn was on board the Tyrone victory bus tonight as it crossed the border into Aughnacloy shortly after 6.30pm.

Thousands were on hand to greet Mickey Harte's squad and the celebrations will continue as the bus heads to Ballygawley and finally Omagh later tonight.

Peter Canavan admitted to the jubilant Aughnacloy crowd that his decision to retire with a second Celtic Cross medal in his pocket was a fitting way to bow out.

"I'm happy enough going out on this note. No better way for a man to finish his inter-county career than to win an All-Ireland," said the 34-year-old attacker.