Sport

The Irish News - Nov 8 1997: Kieran McKeever and Peter Canavan renew rivalry

HEAD TO HEAD...Dungiven’s Kieran McKeever (right) resumes his old argument with Peter Canavan at Clones tomorrow
HEAD TO HEAD...Dungiven’s Kieran McKeever (right) resumes his old argument with Peter Canavan at Clones tomorrow HEAD TO HEAD...Dungiven’s Kieran McKeever (right) resumes his old argument with Peter Canavan at Clones tomorrow

KIERAN McKEEVER will hope those penetrative darts of 1995 are still missing from Peter Canavan’s armoury as Dungiven square up to Errigal Ciaran in this weekend’s Ulster Club Football Championship final.

In contrast, Errigal Ciaran fans will be buoyed by the great man’s improved display in the dethroning of AIB All-Ireland club champions Crossmaglen.

The periodic Clones duels between Peter Canavan and Kieran McKeever have been one of the main features of Ulster football in the 1990s.

During 1994-96, when Canavan established himself as comfortably the best forward in the modern game, McKeever seemed the one defender in the country unfazed by the prospect of marking the Tyrone man.

The two have been in direct opposition over the last three summers at Clones.

On the face of it, Canavan has held the edge with the Red Hand county triumphing in two of the St Tiernach’s Park clashes.

But statistics can blind.

It is one of Gaelic football’s great mysteries that Kieran McKeever didn’t win an Allstar for his display in shackling Canavan in June ‘96.

Derry, collectively, were a shambles that day but amid the wreckage of an embarrassing day for the Oak Leafers, McKeever somehow enhanced his reputation.

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EVANDER HOLYFIELD might make himself the world’s undisputed heavyweight boxing champion just in time to retire from the sport.

WBA champion Holyfield meets IBF champion Michael Moorer in Las Vegas today with the winner likely to fight WBC champion Lennox Lewis to unite the crown.

“I’m looking forward to being the undisputed champion,” said Holyfield.

“Afterwards, I don’t know anything I want anymore from boxing. I would like to unify the heavyweight title, and then maybe I’ll quit. “If you’re going to leave, you might as well finish the work.”

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MAL DONAGHY has applied for the vacant manager’s job at Glentoran.

The former Northern Ireland, Manchester United and Chelsea star has never managed in the game but could be the man to bring Glentoran back into championship contention this season.

According to a source, Donaghy’s application to the club’s vacancy advertisement – which comes in the wake of Tommy Cassidy’s departure last weekend – was among the first received at the Oval.

Among others who are reported to have applied are Ards boss Roy Coyle, Glentoran’s interim manager Billy Sinclair, Distillery manager Paul Kirk and former Glens boss Tommy Jackson.

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CLIFTONVILLE defender Joe Kerr is aiming to join Cliftonville's championship race at the turn of 1998. The dedicated Reds player was set to form a defensive partnership with youngster Damien Davey this season but has been sidelined after damaging cruciate knee ligaments.

Former Donegal Celtic player Kerr underwent an operation in Dublin on July 3, under the knife of top surgeon Ray Moran, a brother of former Republic of Ireland star Kevin.

Daily, Kerr jogs, swims and lifts weights and is promising an all-round stronger player on return to strenghen Cliftonville's bid to become Premier League champions.