Harte: Cavanagh will be fit for final

Shrugging off back and hand injuries, Sean Cavanagh will be fit enough to play for Tyrone in Sunday week's GAA All-Ireland SFC final against reigning champions Kerry.

The Moy clubman has been in the wars in this year's championship. He was stretchered off with a neck injury in July's qualifier win against Westmeath.

In last month's semi-final against Wexford, he had to be replaced after picking up a back injury and dislocating some fingers.

Tyrone manager Mickey Harte is very confident his charge will be fit to face Kerry, and Cavanagh, who has featured at full-forward in recent games, is also remaining positive.

Back training with the panel last weekend after taking a week off, he said: "To be honest, it's going to take an awful lot more than (these knocks) to keep me out of an All-Ireland final.

"What was really disappointing was that I was enjoying the Wexford game so much and it was devastating that I had to come off.

"The first thing going through your mind is, 'that's it, I am going to miss the final.'

"I could hardly walk at the time and I had dislocated a few fingers."

Cavanagh is also delighted to have a player of the quality of Stephen O'Neill, the 2005 Footballer of the Year, back in the panel.

A series of injuries forced O'Neill to announce his retirement from inter-county football earlier this year but the Red Hand ace, who is still only 27, has made himself available for the final after getting the approval of his team-mates.

"Stephen O'Neill is a friend and family of virtually everyone in the squad. To have him back is a great boost," Cavanagh added.

"We tried to get him back earlier in the year and obviously he wasn't right. The timing could've been better.

"It would've been nice to have him before the Dublin or Wexford games but to have him now might even offset against Darragh O'Se and Paul Galvin coming back for Kerry.

"I think that is the main thing - that he is over his injury problems and is willing to resume his inter-county career. It is not just for 2008, it is going to be for 2009 and 2010 as well.

"The guy doesn't drink, doesn't smoke. He looks after himself and he is a fitness fanatic.

"To have a guy coming in that fit and that strong is a massive boost and I think everyone knows what Stephen can do.

"You are not talking about any Joe Bloggs on the street. You're talking about one of the best players in Ireland."