Canavan's future in doubt as he skips league

National League countdown: A major doubt surrounds the future of former Tyrone and All-Ireland winning captain Peter Canavan, who yesterday announced he wouldn't be playing in the Allianz National Football League. While Tyrone manager Mickey Harte has resisted talk of retirement, it is clear that Canavan's football days are numbered.

His sudden decision to drop out of the county panel hadn't been expected as Canavan had featured in all three of Tyrone's matches in last month's Dr McKenna Cup. But fitness-wise he feels he is not up to the demands of the league, which has Tyrone away to Donegal this Sunday. Now just two months short of his 34th birthday it's difficult to see how Canavan can regain that necessary level of fitness.

Harte, however, is prepared to give Canavan all the time he needs: "This is something Peter and I have been speaking about for quite a while. I know before Christmas he wasn't happy with his personal level of fitness, but I persuaded him to come to our trials and take part in the McKenna Cup anyway, and take some time there to bring that fitness level on.

"But he's decided now to drop off the panel, and concentrate with the club where he'll get more football time so to speak, rather than get bits of games in the league."

The plan is for Canavan to play as many games as possible for his club Errigal Ciarán in the Ulster League, which starts later this month. "We've agreed to review the situation when our league is over," added Harte, "and hopefully his fitness level then will be closer to where he wants it to be. If that is the case we'll both be very happy, and I'd still be hopeful he would be available for the championship."

The root of Canavan's fitness problem is the ankle injury he suffered in their All-Ireland semi-final of 2003. Though he managed to get back for their successful final, he missed the entire league last year and made only two passing appearances in the 2004 championship - in the win over Galway and the defeat to Mayo.

Yet according to Harte the fitness problems are more general: "The ankle's been holding up fairly good. It's just that he's been out of that level of football for virtually a year now, and you just don't regain that level fitness straight away, particularly a man of his age and at this stage of his career. He has to work hard on it, and especially in a match situation."

It will be 16 years this summer since Canavan made his senior championship for Tyrone, and for most people yesterday's news marks the beginning of the end of a great career, the pinnacle of which was captaining Tyrone to All-Ireland glory in 2003.

"I'd be a little more positive than that," said Harte. "This was something that we both agreed he should do, and I know he's determined to get himself to the highest level of fitness that he can. If he's determined to do that then I'd hope we can see some of him. He's definitely not ruled out of my plans just yet."

Meanwhile, reigning All-Ireland champions Kerry yesterday named their starting line-up for tomorrow night's league opener against Cork. As expected manager Jack O'Connor is without several first-choice players such as new captain Declan O'Sullivan, Dara Ó Cinnéide and Mike Frank Russell, though he has still named a relatively strong team for the trip to Páirc Uí Rinn.

Only seven of the All-Ireland starting line-up make the team, but three more did appear as substitutes, including Paddy Kelly from Ballylongford, who gets his first start at centre forward. Seamus Moynihan also starts this time in the half back line, and Ronan O'Connor at full forward.

Partnering Darragh Ó Sé at midfield is Michael Quirke, who is fresh from helping Tralee Tigers' win in the Basketball National Cup last weekend. Noel Kennelly, an All-Ireland winner in 2000, also returns to the starting line-up, while Mossie Lyons rejoins Aidan O'Mahony and Marc Ó Sé in the full back line.

Mayo, who play Dublin at Parnell Park on Saturday night, have selected a number of experienced players including David Brady at midfield and Ciarán McDonald at centre forward.