Canavan a jewel, club seek crown

Antipodeans clearly recognise genius, at least in a footballer. On the official Australian Football Rules website prior to the recent series with Ireland the Peter Canavan profile was brief; but a short description can often provide a telescopic insight and this particular Aussie-speak gushed about a player who had "reached legendary status" in Gaelic football.

Recognising genius and appreciating it are vastly different. The subsequent treatment meted out to Canavan was very much over the top as, not for the first time in his sporting life, the player found himself on the receiving end of strong-arm tactics. To rub salt into the wound, Ireland lost the series and Canavan was himself sent off in the second game. Justice? What justice?

Tomorrow in Clones, Canavan's wizardry will again be on view but it will all be a far cry from Croke Park. The crowds will be smaller and, after all the rain this past week, the players from Errigal Ciaran of Tyrone and Bellaghy of Derry simply hope that the pitch in St Tiernach's Park will be more grass than water, that the Ulster club final - the epitome of passion - can be decided in a fitting fashion.

In Ballygawley, the home town of Errigal Ciaran, nobody needs to be reminded of Canavan's ability or his place in the footballing world. Yet, in the build-up to tomorrow's encounter much of the focus of the club's supporters is on a player who won't be playing. Someone, indeed, who may never play again.

Last month, Joe Lynch - who had been prominent in Errigal's win over Carrickmore in the Tyrone final replay and then their first-round win over Down's Clonduff in the Ulster club campaign - suffered a broken cheekbone in an accidental collision in a club match which resulted in him losing sight in his right eye.

"In the last year or so, we've suffered plenty of bad times, sadly . . . so it is at times like this that football can help lift everyone's spirits," acknowledges centre half back Pascal Canavan.

The buntings and flags may abound in Ballygawley, but to many Lynch's injury has put things in perspective. Malachy McCann, the club chairman, describes it as "a real setback". Indeed, in McCann's opinion, the build-up to this match has been of the "low key" variety. "Maybe the weather has also had something to do with it," he admits.

It's seven years since Errigal swashbuckled their way onto the provincial stage and took the Ulster club title before losing out to Nemo Rangers in an All-Ireland semi-final replay. Those days are very much in the past and fresher memories concern their 1997 Ulster semi-final win over Crossmaglen Rangers and the subsequent final defeat to Dungiven.

In some eyes, Errigal's renaissance this season has been unexpected. "A bit of a surprise," concedes the club chairman, "in light of the past two seasons when we made early exits from the county championship, but that Dungiven match isn't that long ago and we always knew what the team was capable of doing." Part of the reason for Errigal's re-emergence has been attributed to the arrival of Peter McDonnell as co-manager with Leo Quinn. "Peter's been a very good influence to the team. He's a new face, and sometimes a club team needs that to provide new energy," says McCann.

The players have certainly responded to McDonnell's ways. Five years ago, McDonnell was responsible for guiding Mullaghbawn of Armagh to the Ulster club title and it appears as if he has brought the midas touch with him to Errigal Ciaran. "Peter's fiercely determined and focused on what he is doing," admits Pascal Canavan, adding: "He'll have his homework done on Bellaghy, although the focus at training has been on ensuring we play to our strengths and not get too concerned with the opposition."

"Bellaghy are a good, fast, fine footballing team," remarks McCann of tomorrow's opposition, underlining the low-key approach that has been adopted by Ballygawley's inhabitants in the run-up to the provincial decider.

An insight into expectations, however, can be found in the words of McDonnell after his side's semi-final win over Castleblayney Faughs, who had conquered All-Ireland kingpins Crossmaglen in the previous round. "Errigal Ciaran have as much right to win Ulster as anybody else. They have talent, commitment and determination . . . and while Bellaghy may have the greater tradition on their side, we won't be coming back to Clones to make up the numbers."

Errigal's renaissance isn't complete just yet, but it could be by tomorrow evening.