But while the county went on to accumulate further Sam Maguire Cup triumphs in 2005, 2008 and 2021 and Errigal Ciaran racked up a remarkable eighth Tyrone title by 2022, Ulster, let alone All-Ireland Club success, remained frustratingly beyond them until the current campaign.
Speaking during his ‘My Greatest Game’ interview in 2020, Canavan ventured that “it’s as hard to win Tyrone as it is to win Ulster”.
“Some people throw up the excuse that players put so much effort in with the county that there’s not a lot left but Tyrone teams do prepare well,” he added
“There are around eight clubs in Tyrone who expect to win the county title every year – not expect to do well, expect to win it.
“That has been borne out by no team being able to win back-to-back titles since Carrickmore in 2005.
“Tyrone teams have got close to winning Ulster. I expect it to happen at some stage, hopefully sooner rather than later.”
It was another four years before Canavan was to be proved right by his own beloved club and after their stirring extra-time victory over Dr Crokes last weekend, Errigal Ciaran have already created history by becoming the first Tyrone team to reach an All-Ireland Senior Club Football Final.
Con O’Callaghan and Cuala stand in their way but Errigal Ciaran’s present, past and future players will head to Croke Park on Sunday along with their families and friends as a totally unified entry with the squabbles of the 1980s a distant and head-scratching memory.
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