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In The Irish News - Sep 20 1996: Injury forces Peter Canavan out of Tyrone SFC final

Tyrone star Peter Canavan
Tyrone star Peter Canavan Tyrone star Peter Canavan

PETER Canavan will miss the Tyrone Senior Championship final because of injury, it was confirmed yesterday.

Canavan has still not recovered from the ankle injury sustained in a heavy challenge from Meath midfielder John McDermott in the All-Ireland semi-final.

Faint hopes that the Errigal Ciaran captain might make the decider against champions Carrickmore were dashed yesterday when it was confirmed that the game, rather than being postponed, has been brought forward by 24 hours because of the All-Ireland final replay.

The Tyrone final will be played at Omagh on Saturday week at 4.30, despite attempts by the Tyrone County Executive to have it postponed until October 6.

But the request was turned down by the Ulster Council as the date clashed with the Ulster Club Championship clash between Castleblayney and the Tyrone winners. Canavan, top scorer with record-breaking totals in the domestic championship for the past two seasons, has played no part in this year’s series.

He missed the first round victory over Dungannon through suspension, and injury ruled him out of subsequent ties against Galbally and Beragh.

The final will feature four members of Tyrone’s All-Ireland semi-final team. Opposing Canavan’s brother Pascal will be Carrickmore trio Seamus McCallan, Brian Gormley and Ronan McGarrity

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POSSIBLE firsts.

1: A Derry man winning an Antrim championship medal at the first attempt.

2: Cargin’s aim - to be first backto-back winners of the ‘90s and the first since St Gall’s in the early ‘80s.

Just two factors that make Sunday’s county final at Casement Park (4.00) more mouthwatering than Opal Fruits.

And there’s more. St Paul’s, unbeaten in all games this season (17 to date), are league champions.

Cargin are county champions.

For one Derry family, Sunday will be a special occasion, a unique event.

When Hugh Tohill joined St Paul’s from Swatragh at the start of the season, he had every confidence his new club could win the senior title.

His inclusion could see big brother Anthony show up at Casement Park, cheering on an Antrim team, rather than adding to Saffron woe with his talents.

Hugh Tohill has to his credit an All-Ireland medal, one Derry minor accolade and a Sigerson gold but no senior club championship medal.

“It would be great to get my hands on a senior medal because I never won one with Swatragh.

“I believe St Paul’s can win this championship although we are playing the champions and there are no two better matched sides in the county,” said young Tohill.

“My first game for St Paul’s was against Cargin in the league. They are a big strong outfit, physical and fast.

“We beat them that day and went on to win the league but that does not matter on the day of the final.”

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ONE pound a round is all it would take for Darren Corbett to fight Ray Kane, the Belfast cruiserweight claimed last night.

The November 5 bout at the Ulster Hall looks like turning into a real grudge match after Kane, in yesterday’s Irish News, hit out at Corbett saying he “no longer wanted to beat him” but to “smash him up”.

The two cruiserweights were due to meet in an Irish title showdown in the Ulster Hall on September 3 but Dubliner Kane was forced to pull out due to a injury sustained while sparring.

But as tension grows between the two, the fight all Ireland wants will surely go ahead on November 5.

“I never set out to insult him in any way,’’ said Corbett.

“But now he’s saying I said all sorts and that’s not true.

“This fight is no longer about money. I’m happy to fight for a winner-takes-all deal. “I’ll fight for a £1 a round if Barry Hearn gets it on.

“It’s personal now and I will prove to all the people of Ireland that I do not need Ray Kane.

He needs me badly and he knows it,” said Corbett.