The latest Canavan to emerge from the Tyrone conveyor belt announced himself on the national stage over the weekend with an 0-8 haul in the All-Ireland under-20 semi-final victory over Kerry at Portlaoise.
In echoes of his father Peter’s formative days in the red and white jersey, Ruairi helped to put the Kingdom to the sword and set up an All-Ireland final date with Kildare on Saturday.
It will be Tyrone’s first final at the grade since 2015, when the competition was under-21, and they defeated Tipperary at Parnell Park.
Read more: Classy Canavan steers Tyrone to All-Ireland semi-final victory over Kerry
Ruairi’s famous father Peter has an astonishing record at under-21 level, scoring 2-3, 2-5 and 0-7 in three consecutive All-Ireland finals (1990-92), before bursting onto the senior stage.
Tyrone’s first All-Ireland senior winning skipper (2003) was part of a Red Hand side hammered by Kerry in the 1990 decider on a 5-12 to 2-11 scoreline.
The following season Tyrone had their revenge, winning 4-6 to 1-5, before going back to back in 1992, defeating Galway in the final by 1-10 to 1-7.
Peter accounted for over 50 per cent of Tyrone’s scores across those three finals.
Ruairi was good for just under 50 percent of his side’s tally at the weekend with an astonishing array of points off right and left from all angles - including marks, frees and four points from play.
Errigal Ciaran scoring machine Canavan has now hit 0-27 in Tyrone’s four games in the under-20 Championship, averaging just under seven points per game.
That included a magnificent sideline kick in the Ulster final win over Cavan.
The current Tyrone team also contains Michael McGleenan - a son of former Tyrone All-Ireland finalist and ex-Cavan manager, Mattie, who is tipped by many to go into the senior squad.
Another classy former Tyrone star of the early 90s, Adrian Cush, who was on those Red Hand under-21 teams with Peter Canavan, has a son in the side, Conor.
And iconic former Tyrone midfielder of the 1980s and 90s, Plunkett Donaghy also has a son, Steve, in the starting line-up.
The team is managed by Paul Devlin, who played alongside Canavan, Cush and McGleenan for Tyrone.
Ruairi, a younger brother of current All-Ireland winning senior forward, Darragh was part of a Tyrone side that staged a late rally at the weekend to take down Kerry.
The heartstopping win helped banish memories of the 2019 and 2020 defeats at the same stage of the competition, and meant Kerry are still looking for their first All-Ireland at under-20/21 level since 2008.
In his heyday though Peter Canavan was always a team player and he has clearly instilled that into his sons, despite their undoubted scoring power.
“We worked hard for each other throughout and that was key,” said Ruairi.
“We knew at half-time that the work rate was there and that we were just missing the quality at times.
“In the second half we maintained the work rate and we made less mistakes when in possession and we got the ball in quicker to the forward line.
“They got a goal at the start of the second half and they then quickly went four clear but we have been in this position before this season and we didn’t panic.
“We knew how to deal with it. It wasn’t easy but we got there in the end.
“Sean O’Donnell’s block towards the end of the game was crucial but that just epitomised the spirit within this team.
“There is no giving up, no matter what way the game is going. That is what it takes to get over the finish line in big games like this and the final will be no different. We will have to up it again.”
The key moment in the game arrived when Canavan’s point effort came back off a post with Gavin Potter reacting quickest to feed Ciaran Bogue who coolly fired to the net.
“The managers have been onto us all year about just being alert at all times and that is what happened for the goal with Gavin Potter winning the ball after it had come off the post,” said Canavan.
“He had the presence of mind to slip the ball to Ciaran and you wouldn’t want any other player in that position as he tucked it away brilliantly.”
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