GAA Site
TENNENT’S/UGAAWA MERIT AWARD FOR JUNE 2005
It’s that man again –
PETER CANAVAN - who doesn’t need a guide to take
him to the Ulster Brewery in Belfast. Not to be taken in the wrong ‘spirit’,
of course as Peter makes a seventh trip to the Glen Road to collect our
Tennent’s Monthly Merit Award.
It’s a record that only Peter is likely to beat. The other occasions
for which he was honoured with the award were April ’91, March ’94,
June ’95, September ’95, June ’96 and October 2000. A
steady stream of monthly awards that spans over 14 years with June being
his special month.
Incidentally, Peter (now 34) also holds the record of being the only player
to captain back-to-back All-Ireland under-21 winning football teams.
After skippering Tyrone to win the Sam Maguire Cup in 2003, many people
reckoned that injury might force Peter into pre-mature retirement but Tyrone
fans can be thankful that he was determined to fight his way back to fitness
and help launch another bid for Ulster and All-Ireland honours.
It was that lion-hearted determination that shot him back to prominence
this summer and he picks up our award for June 2005 after proving that he
is back to his best again. He returned in May to pep up Tyrone’s hopes,
started the drawn game against Cavan in June at centre-forward and eased
his way back into full action. In the replay, he was his magnificent self
again, this time wearing the No.13 jersey as he hit home 1-7 to create yet
another record.
That pushed his championship tally past that of Down doyne, Paddy Doherty,
but as Peter rightly pointed out, it is not like against like. There are
more championship games nowadays and they are 20 minutes longer. Still,
he is now the top championship scorer of all time.
Peter gets the Tennent’s/UGAAWA
Monthly Merit Award for June 2005 ahead of Derry skipper Paddy
Bradley with Armagh players Andy Mallon and Aaron Kernan also in the running.
He received his award of sports vouchers from Tennent’s Ireland and
Pro*Star Sport, his seventh engraved Belleek China vase, specially designed
silver cufflinks from Garret Mallon and two tickets plus accommodation to
the Ulster GAA Writers’ 2005 banquet at a presentation in the Ulster
Brewery on Wednesday, July 6.
The presentation was made
by area Sales Manager Seamus Horisk.
