Canavans' quest to halt latest Kilcoo tilt at glory

It's a curious aspect of the Ulster club football championship that in its 56 years of existence, the winners have come from Tyrone on just two occasions.

Indeed Sunday’s Red Hand representatives, Errigal Ciarán, are the only side to have lifted the Seamus McFerran Cup, the most recent occasion being 2002.

There are obvious similarities between then and now for the south Tyrone club.

They only required eight points to defeat Enniskillen Gaels to land their second provincial title, yet it was a Canavan that provided half the scores (current manager Enda McGinley also raised a white flag on the day). Brother Pascal was also a central figure on the day, with Enniskillen reduced to 14 men early in the second half for an off-the-ball offence against the older sibling.

While Peter was the undoubted maestro in an All-Ireland journey that ended at the penultimate stage against Nemo Rangers, his sons Darragh (24) and Ruairí (21) lead the charge up front for the current crop.

In their three Ulster outings to date, the brothers have accounted for 47% of Errigal Ciarán's, scores. Last time out, Ruairí was in sublime form, floating over a magnificent score - his ninth of the afternoon - off his weaker left to snatch victory over Clann Éireann. The pair accounted for all but three of their points in a gripping encounter.

The Tyrone side have had three matches to get to the decider, shading it against Donegal champions St Eunan’s before proving too strong for Antrim’s Cargin.

The manner of the win over the Armagh kingpins last time out will surely stand the side in good stead at the Box-It Athletic Grounds, never mind the feat in itself to emerge as kingpins in Tyrone, given the cut-throat nature of the knockout championship.

The Ballygawley