Monaghan chairman John Connolly has condemned the treatment of suspended corner forward Tommy Freeman, claiming he is a victim of "trial by TV". Freeman's eight-week ban for "attempting to strike with the head" during the ill-tempered Ulster SFC clash with Derry on May 24 last was upheld by the DRA on Friday night, resulting in him missing last night's first round All-Ireland qualifier victory over Armagh. He will also miss next Saturday's second round and the third round the following week should Monaghan progress that far. Connolly also hit out at Joe Brolly and insisted that RTE should reconsider the former Derry star's position as TV pundit in the wake of the Freeman affair. A barrister based in Belfast, Brolly put together the case for Derry midfielder Fergal Doherty, who succeeded in having his eight-week ban - arising out of the same game - halved. "Some of the derogatory remarks he made about Monaghan that day were scandalous. Analysing the game doesn't say that you have to be derogatory to a county. He's making money on the back of the GAA, these counties and these players," the Farney County chief said. "I don't mind people doing analysis at a fair rate and being paid for doing it but it's different when players are isolated and counties made little of. "We have grievances about the way he spoke about us and I don't feel he should have been back on the programme since." Connolly added that former All-Star Freeman was left "devastated" by the whole affair. Tweet

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