Tyrone manager Mickey Harte has backed his former player Peter Canavan to "be the catalyst" in uniting Fermanagh's footballers after being appointed as the Erne County's new manager last night.

The Ernesiders were in disarray last season, with several of their stars walking away from John O'Neill panel, before suffering an early exit from the All-Ireland SFC at the hands of London in the first round of the qualifiers.

However, Harte believes that the county board have appointed the right man to try and turn around their fortunes next season.

"I think he's probably what Fermanagh football needs at the minute, somebody with his sort of background, and the respect that he has gained within the game, to come into a county like Fermanagh, who haven't had access to all their players, for a variety of reasons, in recent times," Harte said in today's Irish News.

"I think he'll be the catalyst to pull all of that together, and I think it's only a very good move for Fermanagh."

Canavan comes into his first inter-county job with Fermanagh, but his record in management has been impressive thus far, having steered his native Errigal Ciaran to two Tyrone Division One league titles in the last three seasons and managed the school teams of Holy Trinity Cross and Cookstown.

"He's a teacher, he has been managing school teams, he has been managing club sides, he has worked up through the years at different age groups, so it's no major surprise he would move into management," said the Tyrone boss.

"He is steeped in football all his life, he had the touch of genius about him as a player, and I'm sure he would love to pass that on to other people."

He added: "I didn't quite think it was going to be with another county just yet, but it's good to share what he has around. And it just shows you that there's no borders in Gaelic games nowadays. Lots of managers come into club scenes from outside, and lots of managers come into counties from other counties.

"So it's now a new thing, and it's good that somebody like Peter Canavan will be able to bring his undoubted insights into the game in Fermanagh, and it can only be good for the game in that county." Tweet

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