Freeman: more mature Monaghan ready for Tyrone

THE last time Monaghan faced Tyrone in the championship was in an All-Ireland qualifier two years when they lost by double scores.

But captain Damien Freeman believes his side is wiser for Sunday’s Ulster final rematch at Clones.

Ten points separated the sides in that fixture two summers ago but that was a scoreline that papered over the cracks that Monaghan found in Mickey Harte’s team for the first half an hour that day.

Seamus McEnaney’s men led by six points after the first quarter, and that lead was almost nine only for Pascal McConnell’s save from Rory Woods. But Tyrone eventually found their feet and pulled away.

Freeman has more reason than most to remember that day. Monaghan were only three points down with ten minutes to play when he was sent off for a second yellow card — then the floodgates opened.

“We’re a more mature team now,” said Freeman. “We learnt a lot from that. We were beaten in the last ten or 15 minutes of games back then. Now we’re pushing out in the last quarter.

“Every game you go out, you learn something new every day. We know we will have to perform a lot better than we did in the Derry game.

“Everybody knows what Tyrone are like. They showed their quality against Donegal.” Last weekend threw up some encouraging signs for Monaghan. Sligo showed what unfancied teams can achieve with a remarkable will and work-rate that completely negated Galway’s perceived superiority.

Possibly of more significance was the game in their own back yard that saw Armagh shown the exit door by Derry. Given Armagh’s standing and Monaghan’s defeat of Derry, did it not bode well for Freeman’s side?

“We knew Derry were a good side and we knew they would put it up to Armagh. They’re both similar types of teams and it was as close as we expected it to be at the end with only a point in it.

“Derry did brilliantly to recover from nine-seven down to win but that’s all irrelevant to us really.”

He’s a cagey customer, Freeman. Any and all enquiries are met with clipped but polite replies and he doesn’t make an exception when the venue for Sunday’s meeting is broached.

Clones may be every Ulster’s side second ‘home’ venue but it is Monaghan’s first and the 34,000 capacity stadium seems to be a more fitting location for their return to the big time than Croke Park where the decider had set up temporary home in previous years.

“It doesn’t really matter, we’re just glad to be in it. It’s good to see the Ulster final back in Clones. It has been played there for so many years. It’s our home pitch but Tyrone have played two championship matches there and we’ve played ours away. I don’t think it will be much of an advantage.”

His memories of 1988, when he was lifted over a wall to watch the win over Tyrone in that year’s final, are fresh enough for him to know what victory would mean for the team and the county itself.

Win and the players will take the credit, lose and the management will probably be the first to get it in the neck but Freeman showers great praise on manager Seamus McEnaney and trainer Martin McElkennon.

‘Banty’ has resurrected the county’s fortunes since taking over the role as boss prior to the 2005 season and the arrival of McElkennon this year has taken the side’s preparations to a new level.

“Seamus is a Monaghan man true and true. He wears his heart on his sleeve. Everyone can see that just by talking to him for as little as two minutes. That sinks into the team, that pride in the Monaghan jersey.”