Personalities

Jack O'Shea - Kerry
Jack O'Shea will always be remembered for his starring roles in the midfield of the great Kerry teams that recorded the four-in-a-row of 1978-1981. Yet curiously much of Jacko's football career is dominated by events from times outside of this Golden Era.
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Jack O'Shea - Kerry
Jack O'Shea will always be remembered for his starring roles in the midfield of the great Kerry teams that recorded the four-in-a-row of 1978-1981. Yet curiously much of Jacko's football career is dominated by events from times outside of this Golden Era.

Growing up in Cahirceveen, O'Shea lived a handful of miles from Valentia Island - the home of the mighty Mick 0'Connell. The big man often rowed his boat to the mainland so that he could take to the field at Cahirceveen with Mick O'Dwyer to practise their catching and kicking skills. The young Jack spent many evenings watching the two stars, acting as ballboy and almost subconsciously picking up their numerous skills. With such teachers and a pinch of natural born talent the youngster seemed destined for greatness in the green and gold. After making his minor debut against Waterford in the 1974 Munster Championship Jacko went on to represent the U-21s with whom he won a record four-in-a-row All-Ireland medals. The natural progression to the seniors came in '77 and after a disappointing All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Dublin, Kerry went on to achieve the elusive four-in-a-row.

O'Shea was integral to that success, yet it is arguable that his greatest ever game for the Kingdom came in the 1984 All-Ireland semi-final against Galway when he scored five points, as well as giving an imperious display at midfield. 1984 would also see him named on the Sunday Independent/Irish Nationwide team of the century. Jack captained the side that year and it is sometimes forgotten that Kerry notched up another three-in-a-row between '84 and '86. 1986 would be their last title in eleven years, a famine for the Kingdom, but the midfielder from Cahirciveen would serve the county until 1992. His last game was in the Munster final against Clare when the Banner bridged a 75-year gap to win only their second Munster title. A strange way for Jacko's astonishing sixteen-year career with the county to end. During the span of his career with the senior panel, Kerry had won three National Leagues, ten Munster titles and seven All-Irelands.
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Peter Canavan - Tyrone
It is hard to think of a more iconic figure in recent decades in Ulster football – and arguably on the national circuit either – than Tyrone talisman Peter Canavan, whose skills illuminated the both the Ulster championship and the All-Ireland series for more than a decade.
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Peter Canavan - Tyrone
It is hard to think of a more iconic figure in recent decades in Ulster football – and arguably on the national circuit either – than Tyrone talisman Peter Canavan, whose skills illuminated the both the Ulster championship and the All-Ireland series for more than a decade.

And yet for all his majesty on the field of play it seemed at one stage that the Errigal Chiaráin clubman might join the list of the ‘undecorated’ by missing out on football’s ultimate accolade and end without the Celtic Crosses that his undisputed skills so richly deserved.

For Canavan it was a case of saving the best for last and although he persevered during what were some of Tyrone’s fallow years, he was rewarded towards the tail end of a career that can only be described as glittering with not just one All-Ireland success, but two.

Although the classy forward was destined for the higher reaches of the game, learning his game as did in a football mad household, a dispute on the local circuit in Tyrone meant that Peter missed out on a number of seasons of competitive action as a youngster.

It didn’t hinder his progress or development as a footballer and although his 1995 senior inter-county Championship campaign helped nudge the nation’s conscience, his ability had been underlined long before this amongst those who followed Tyrone football with any degree of scrutiny and underage representative honours hinted at what was to follow.

Nonetheless his exploits in ’95 well and truly announced his arrival as a force to be reckoned with on the national stage and his final salvo, albeit in a final reversal to Dublin on a day when he accounted for 11 of his team’s final tally of 12 points, highlighted the fact that regardless of Tyrone’s shortcoming in that particular match Canavan would be a major player at the highest level for some time to come.

However Tyrone did not kick on from there and despite the promise shown in 1995; Meath, paying special attention to Canavan’s attacking threat the following year, ended Tyrone hopes of a second consecutive final appearance and by extension the possibility of a first ever All-Ireland title at senior level.

However, not even Tyrone’s drift from the higher echelons of the game could disguise the quality of Canavan’s play.

In addition to powering their challenge from the front, Canavan influence on those around him, and especially the younger members of the panel, was plain for all to see.

The success that would follow for the county was built from the bottom up on the back of minor and U21 successes that would eventually filter through to the senior grade.

Armagh’s emergence in 2002 as All-Ireland champions upped the ante for Ulster counties much in the same way as Down’s 1991 success had 11 years earlier and Tyrone responded, to forge a white hot rivalry with their neighbours.

In 2003 it was Armagh who would provide the opposition to Tyrone in a first ever ‘same-Province’ final clash.

It was a titanic encounter and one that Canavan played his part in as captain. His guiding influence combined with the astuteness of team manager Mickey Harte on the sideline allowed Canavan to climb the steps of the Hogan Stand to receive the Sam Maguire Cup much to the approval of legions of both his neutral and partisan admirers and supporters alike.

The dedication to his father, who had passed away only months earlier, added to what was already a poignant moment.

However 2003 would prove to be the start of the rise of Tyrone, not the summit and while Canavan continued to play his part in ensuring that Errigal remained as one of the blue chip outfit on the Tyrone club scene, the county team were far from satisfied with one All-Ireland success.

If 2004 fell flat after the exploits of ’03, 2005 saw the county’s fortunes once again resurrected and Canavan had a key part to play.

While his exquisite All-Ireland final goal against Kerry was the stand out passage of play from the season, the Ulster final and All-Ireland semi-final clashes between Tyrone and Armagh represented the peak of a rivalry that captured the imaginations of GAA supporters everywhere.

While Canavan illuminated high profile occasions such as All-Ireland finals, it was his outstanding contributions on such a prolonged and consistent basis in the jerseys of Errigal Ciarán, Tyrone, Ulster and Ireland, acknowledged by the awarding of six All-Star awards that saw him held in such high affection.

All told it was a career to rival the best and one that won’t be forgotten in a hurry.
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Roscommon play Galway this Sunday in the Connacht Senior Football Championship. Who will win?

Personalities

Jack O'Shea - Kerry

Jack O'Shea - Kerry

Peter Canavan - Tyrone

Peter Canavan - Tyrone

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