Tommy delighted to be back in the heat of battle

Sipping from his water bottle, Tommy Freeman took a big gulp and surveyed the scene he missed so badly last year — Clones on a hot summer day, Monaghan people cheering louder with every point.

Freeman was in America last year when Monaghan were crashing to defeats by Tyrone and Offaly.

And although a hamstring injury curtailed his involvement yesterday, there was no mistaking his intent.