Freeman reads it and sweeps for Monaghan

Damien Freeman first played championship for Monaghan in 1998, a comprehensive, 11-point defeat by Derry. He scored three points and was eventually followed on to the team by his brother, Tommy, whose reputation makes him the county's best-known player.

That was his first championship outing and the most recent was also against Derry, but this time it was Monaghan, with an impressively calm display especially as the clock was running down on a narrow lead, who were still standing at the final whistle.

On Sunday, 19 years after he was helped over the churchyard wall to see Monaghan defeat this weekend's opponents Tyrone, he leads the county into its first Ulster final since.

Arguably the pivotal decision of his intercounty career was when the new management team of Séamus McEneaney made him captain in 2005 and switched his position from the forwards to wing back.

McEneaney's two selectors at the time, Gerry Hoey and Bernie Murray, had experienced a similar migration in their own playing days with that last Monaghan team to reach an Ulster final back in 1988.

"He's mobile and dynamic and we felt he could do with a run at the back to refresh his game," according to Murray. "He's comfortable on the ball and good at reading situations, which you can see when he sweeps in front of the full-back line.

"I think he was getting frustrated in the forwards. I remember a club championship game when Cavan Gaels just played a sweeper to cut out himself and Tommy and won. That's frustrating, but the fact that he's played so extensively across the attack means that he knows what forwards don't like.

"I was converted from the forwards and for me it was a new lease of life; you're on the ball more and get to express yourself more. Damien also has this telepathic thing with Tommy when he's on the ball and Tommy's movement is so good that it sets up good positions."

This season has been a great advance for Monaghan.

They bounced back to Division One after just a season away and progressed through the championship past Down and Derry. It's the culmination of a couple of years of development although relegation and a disappointing qualifier defeat in 2006 could have created question marks over this.

"It was a disappointing season," says Freeman, "but when you look back we had some fantastic results.

"We came up to Parnell Park and beat Dublin, lost out to Tyrone by a couple of points and lost a few more games by a point or two and it was those last 10 minutes that we were punished so, while it turned out to be a bad year, it probably wasn't as bad as was said."

The improved ability to close out matches, he says, is a tribute to trainer Martin McElkennon's fitness regime.

Freeman's career has encompassed great years for Ulster football but the sight of Armagh and Tyrone, both of whom border Monaghan, returning from Dublin with All-Irelands has left the county feeling left out.

"It was hard when you saw Monaghan people going up to support the neighbours and maybe have on their jerseys and that. That's hard to swallow."

We'll have to wait and see how McEneaney handles the final tactically. Murray remembers the last time the counties met Freeman's role was the subject of some regretful consideration.

"I don't know how he's going to play on Sunday," says Murray. "In the qualifier against Tyrone in 2005 himself and Brian Dooher cancelled each other out, which in a way is good for the defender but from our point of view Damien had to sacrifice his game. We'll have to see what happens this time."