Cora Staunton says Tyrone’s Darragh Canavan is ‘the player of the League.’
The Errigal Ciaran club-man turned in a brilliant performance against Roscommon to back up a string of scintillating displays in the competition so far.
With 1-26 to his name in six games, Canavan has been the focal point for Tyrone’s attack throughout the competition. 1-18 of his tally has come from open play and Staunton, the former Mayo forward says that he is ‘the complete footballer.’
“I think if you’re to look at a player of the league so far, it’s probably him – I know Peter (Canavan) probably wouldn’t want to say that,” Staunton said on League Sunday.
Staunton, who won four All-Irelands and 11 All-Stars during an illustrious career with Mayo, hailed Canavan for his proficiency in all facets of the game.
She says that as well as having a ‘low centre of gravity’ which lends him the ability to take defenders on, he is also a good kicker.
On top of that, she says you’re just as likely to see him tackling on the other end of the field.
“Last night (vs Monaghan) he was just absolutely awesome,” said Staunton.
” I think he’s one of these complete footballers.
“A lot of times, forwards can only do one or two things but he can do it all.
“He scores a great point from play. Then he wins a free himself, puts it down and over from 40 metres out.
“Take his goal, it’s the toe poke.
The majority of forwards would swing their left at it there. That finish was absolutely awesome. It’s his low centre of gravity as well taking Ryan O’Toole on another time.
“But he’s the complete footballer. You could see him in another instance back on his own 21, working really hard, making a turnover,” she said.
All the while, in his capacity as a pundit for RTÉ, Canavan’s dad Peter was sitting alongside Staunton.
“I don’t know where he got the toe-poke out of, because I certainly didn’t teach him that. He says that his son learned his toe-poke from Tyrone legend Tommy McGuigan.
“I taught him never to bounce the ball on a wet surface either. Tommy McGuigan was the last Tyrone man to score a goal from a toe-poke in Croke Park, so maybe he’s copying Tommy.”
Canavan’s younger brother Ruairi is also on the Tyrone team, with both brothers having played a key part in Ulster University’s Sigerson Cup triumph earlier in the season.
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