GAELIC GAMES: Although Peter Canavan's retirement has attracted the lions' share of publicity, the new All-Ireland champions Tyrone are also bidding farewell to a contemporary of the great man.

Chris Lawn announced yesterday he was stepping down after a career that began with him winning under-21 All-Irelands along with Canavan in 1991 and '92.

They are the only surviving members of the side that reached the All-Ireland final in 1995. Although it wasn't an old team very few lasted much longer in the game, something that still puzzles Lawn.

"I remember the game against Dublin," he says. "It was crap. It was an embarrassment to the GAA at that time. We didn't do Tyrone any favours and we didn't do Gaelic football any favours. Peter was the only one to come out with any credit.

"It's a question I ask myself. It's a personal decision. It's life but I can't understand why certain fellas hang up their boots at an early age, 26 or 27. Whenever my mother and father took me to Croke Park for the first time in 1984 and then again in 1986 it ignited a flame in me. I feel privileged to have played for Tyrone and it's something I didn't let go very easily. So I can't understand anyone quitting early."

A decade after that first final he walks away with two All-Ireland medals and a fine performance after coming on as a replacement in the second half of Sunday's match.

"I'm not going to fool myself. I was hanging on by my fingernails all year. I couldn't do it again next year. It's tough at stages. I've a wee daughter and I've built my house and I'm so busy working. That's why it's so satisfying.

"I'm not sad. This has been a blast, a wonderful experience for myself. I'm not sure what way Peter thinks but for me to know a man like that and grow up with a fella like that and to be such a friend and to go out on a game like that - actually I'm not going out, I've to mark him next week in the club championship."

Lawn's personal season has been as arduous as the team's. He had to battle against injury even to get to the starting line back in January.

"This time last year I went to Louis O'Connor, the physio, and I literally could not get up on his table. I couldn't walk. I decided to work hard and see what the crack was, try and get ready for the McKenna Cup. Things went from there and I'm so grateful that it all worked out."

Even when fit his form didn't always respond and he was in and out of the team at full back. At times he felt the lash of critical comments, which compounded his own frustrations and upset his family. His performance on Sunday was a final statement from a proud player.

"Very, very content, very satisfied," he describes his reaction. "I felt on days this year that I let a lot of people down, not so much my team-mates but there were things written that were pretty embarrassing for my family. That's why I don't normally do this. You hear these people who get a few pound for sitting in a studio or writing in a paper - sometimes it's just criticism but I'm my own worst critic."

Tyrone's National Football League season ended sensationally back in April. Lawn says the setback provided the springboard for a determined and demanding training schedule.

"We were beaten by Wexford in the semi-final and we all met the following Tuesday. We were either going nowhere or somewhere. The training was lifted and we were slaughtered. Fergal McCann (team trainer) was fantastic and made us understand that we were going nowhere if we didn't work hard. That makes it worthwhile. We're the first team to win the All-Ireland playing 10 games. Sweet is the word I'd use."

He describes in emotional terms his feelings about the quality of his display and the succession of attacking plays that he pounced on and shuttled to safety.

"Those of us who've played in an All-Ireland final feel very, very privileged.

"Any ball you get as a Tyrone man in an All-Ireland final doesn't come around very often. It's precious."