Playing in Croke Park will make it day to cherish, says Freeman
Despite the fact that he will be missing some regulars, Hyland feels that his team can offer a viable challenge to a Derry side that has struggled to find consistency, particularly in a championship context, in recent years.
When he refers to the fact that there is a lot at stake, Hyland is certainly not overplaying his hand.
His opposite number Gallagher is only too well aware that should Derry fail in their bid to gain promotion from Division Three then they will face the prospect of involvement in Tier Two of the All-Ireland Football Championship, something that would not have any degree of appeal within a county which saw some 11,000 fans flock to the semi-finals of its senior football championship last year.
This begs the question — how many matches in Tier Two of the All-Ireland Championship will attract 5,000-plus spectators?
Let’s wait and see.
WHEN a sinkhole explosion devastated Magheracloone’s pitch in the autumn of 2018, it looked as if the club had been dealt a blow from which they would never recover.
But grit and resilience are embedded in the psyche of the Monaghan club to such an extent that not only have they roared into tomorrow’s All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football final against Galway and Connacht champions Oughterard at Croke Park, but plans for their new ground are at an advanced stage.
They may have lived something of a nomadic existence but this has not hampered the club’s ability to deliver consistency in Monaghan and Ulster.
Now, not only will they get a golden opportunity to grace Croke Park tomorrow, but they will be playing in the ‘warm-up’ match before the hugely attractive Allianz Football League Division One opener between Dublin and Kerry — what’s not to like about that?
Tommy Freeman (above) has served Magheracloone and Monaghan with distinction and, as one of only a couple of players who has sampled the experience of playing at Croke Park, he has been telling his playing colleagues that it will be an occasion to savour.
“You cherish any day you get to play in Croke Park, but to be sharing the bill with Dublin and Kerry? Well, it gets no better than that,” smiles 38-year-old Freeman.