Canavan played in an average Tyrone side and almost delivered 2 All Irelands in 95/96. As for the poster than wondered what he did pre 2003, I would argue that he was used more as a decoy in 2003-05 and he was not anywhere near his prime and in 91-96 (he has 2 U21 all irelands I believe) he was without doubt the best forward in Ireland until he was part of a meath sandwich in AI semi in 96 ( McDermott and someone else decided to stop him scoring by tearing his ankle ligaments and he was out for a year). In his prime in the ealry 90's he was unmarkeable and usually was double marked. The only player who could contain him has Sean Marty Lockhart who was an exceptional footballer.

Gooch , a brilliant footballer, however in a great team ( this included Declan O'Sullivan who I know Tyrone feared more than anyone in the 2003- 2008 era) but i feel that when the chips are down Gooch doesnt come through in a big game often enough, i.e. Dublin 13/15 Tyrone 05/08. With so many great Kerry forwards that Gooch played with he wasnt the main man all the time and couldnt be double marked as there were too many other threats so in theory he had more space to play.

When we are comparing the two we seem to forget than when canavan stopped playing in 05 when he was 34 after a career littered with injuries, at the time gooch was in his prime at 22/3. If your comparing the 22 year old canavan against the 22 year old gooch then the fact we find it hard to seperate them when canavan was well past his peak then you have to say that wee peter wins hands down

One more thing of note. In 2005 AI final canavan scored and unbelievable goal and is rightly lauded and applauded for it. However he also scored a point that day in the canal end when tyrone where under the cosh. It was either to go a point up or to level the scores but it was from the 13 yard line right along the touch line. IMO it was by far the best core of the day for its importance and the fact that under them conditions the only person who could have scored it that day was canavan. Gooch did score some nice points that day as well and I remember Spillane & Co picking the 5 scores of the day and Tyrone had 2 Kerry had 3 and canavans point wasnt even mentioned (RTE had an anti tyrone bias even back then!)

conman1282 (Tyrone) - Posts: 88 - 12/05/2016 08:57:01    1854244

On face value, without the variables of double marking, space, province, eras etc etc, Gooch was the best player I ever saw live. TV is another story, but in the flesh, he was the best player, even if you were to broaden the field as far as you like.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3846 - 12/05/2016 10:05:09    1854261

To be honest I think Sean Cavanagh was a better player than both of them. Canavan and Gooch were outstanding players but Cavanagh could really take a game by the scruff of the neck & even now at the tail end of his career is one of the best players in the country.

Green_Gold (Donegal) - Posts: 1906 - 12/05/2016 10:20:12    1854269

Agree. Sean Cavanagh was a superior player to Canavan. Id have joyce ahead of him too personally. Whoever said joyce didn't do anything after 2001 is off their heads - what did canavan do prior to 2003? It is a foolish way to judge the thing.
I think canavan, while a classy player, benefits from a lot of rose-tinted memories, because he soldiered on so diligently in the 90s etc and then finally getting the prize. Plus he is a likeable guy with a very dry wit, and we hear a lot of him in the media, where he is very fair in his analysis. All positive stuff which can make people like him more, and then rate him higher. He has become a bit of a mythical figure, and nobody can seem to remember a poor game he played at this stage. But if you compared the range of skills he had with say Conor McManus, McManus would be ahead of him I believe.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts:15570 - 11/05/2016 14:51:25 1854059

I assume you didn't have a TV before 2003? Peter Canavan was Tyrone in 1995!!!

Joyce was a class act, anyone who says he done nothing after 2001 is a fool. For me though one of the classiest players of all time was Ciaran McDonald. His range of passing was a joy to watch and he wasn't afraid to get stuck in either.

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 12/05/2016 11:03:01    1854291

Tell me what he did then? McDonald was ok he couldn't do what Gooch or Canavan could do.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 12/05/2016 11:33:54    1854313

Being blocked from clarifying my point here.
I'll just say the thing about canavan prior to 2003 was a sarcastic response to a point about joyce

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 12/05/2016 12:13:33    1854337

Tell me what he did then? McDonald was ok he couldn't do what Gooch or Canavan could do.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts:7414 - 12/05/2016 11:33:54

When Mayo crumbled he was the only player who tended to show up. 2004 final is a perfect example, hit two outrageous points to keep Mayo in the game in the first half before goochs goal.

gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 12/05/2016 12:23:31    1854347

Asking what Canavan achieved pre 2003 is one of the stupidest things I've read on this webiste.He was a better footballer in the 90's than he was in the 00's.

Joyce defintely wasn't as good post 2001 as he was from 98-01 although he had a nice revival in his last few years when he became more of a creative player and played mainly at centre forward.

uibhfhaili1986 (Offaly) - Posts: 1296 - 12/05/2016 12:47:01    1854357

Like picking between God and Jesus but I'm old enough to remember 1995.

Any Ciarraí or Tír Eoghain people ought to declare a conflict of interest here. For that reason I'm honour bound to vote for PtG.

J.P. O Sullivan or Dick Fitzgerald would wipe the floor with either of them :)

an tseabhac (Kerry) - Posts: 441 - 12/05/2016 13:02:41    1854363

Joyce from 98 to 01 was class but he never reached them heights again after 01. They got hammered in 04 and 06 he had no impact on either game, he had at times moments of individual brilliance but more often than not he went missing when Mayo needed him most.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 12/05/2016 13:10:56    1854369

Canavan was better in my opinion probably because we played against tyrone so often and he destroyed us. Agree with people regarding Sean Cananagh he's a phenomenal player and so consistent the last since breaking onto the tyrone team in 2002. Probably my favourite player to watch.

Jim_Shorts (Cavan) - Posts: 96 - 12/05/2016 21:27:20    1854530

Peter Canavan is the best player EVER to have graced a football pitch......by a distance.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9818 - 12/05/2016 21:44:19    1854537

Neither Gooch or canavan could ever beat a Meath team

bert09 (Meath) - Posts: 1823 - 12/05/2016 21:48:27    1854539

Peter Canavan is the best player EVER to have graced a football pitch......by a distance.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts:7869 - 12/05/2016 21:44:19 1854537


In your opinion. I would not be of the same opinion.

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5251 - 13/05/2016 08:56:20    1854552

Matty Forde was better than either of em!

extranjero (Wexford) - Posts: 375 - 13/05/2016 10:16:36    1854578

I think both players are equally skilled (Maurice Fitzgerald was more skilled than both in my opinion, but less favoured by the management of the day) but the difference between the two is leadership. From a young age canavan was used to being the go-to player and came up trumps more often than not. Whereas the gooch is a supremely clinical finisher and good enough to finish the moves wherever they come from. My memory might be fading but I can't remember a game the gooch dominated which wasn't a turkey shoot. Not his fault but in these types of discussion it is a definite difference.

duckula20 (Antrim) - Posts: 175 - 13/05/2016 10:35:49    1854582

I am a huge fan of PC as proven by my earlier posts on this thread, however he was not the greatest player...ever....
Ulsterman, your some man for the hyperbole!!
For me the greatest players ever are
Matt Connor, Jack O'Shea, Brian Mullins, Paidi O'Se, Stephen Cluxton, Colm Cooper, Peter Canavan, Frank McGuigan, Martin O'Connell and Maurice Fitz
Take your pick from that bunch, none of them are far and away from the rest of them.

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 13/05/2016 10:41:54    1854585

Matty Forde was better than either of em!

extranjero (Wexford) - Posts:53 - 13/05/2016 10:16:36 1854578

MF had as much talent as either as did Matt O Connor , but greats tend to be judged in conjunction with what they achieve rightly or wrongly , Ive no doubt in a top team Mattie would be a true legend

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 13/05/2016 10:52:05    1854593

A bit harsh Liam he's entitled to his opinion and a lot of people would agree with him. Canavan destroyed everyone and anyone.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 13/05/2016 11:03:54    1854598

You can add Declan Browne to the Mattie Forde category

KerryKillers (Dublin) - Posts: 711 - 13/05/2016 12:38:39    1854627