Down's Ambrose Rogers says he is "happy to be playing" football again.

The Mourne County midfielder played for 48 minutes of Sunday's McKenna Cup win over Monaghan at Clones and - having recovered from a second cruciate ligament injury (not to mention the broken foot and ruptured spleen!) - he's relieved to be back on the field of play.

"I'm starting to come into what you're hoping is the best years of your game," he says in The Mirror. "I just appreciate any time I get to wear the Down jersey and lead out the team. I'm just happy to be playing.

"After we lost to Cork, I was back playing with the club for the rest of the season. It just took a bit longer than I wanted to, but I suppose it's better late than never.

"I just take a bit more care with it than I did before but it's fine to go now and I'm back playing away on it. I just need to work on the fitness to get myself back up to speed." Tweet

Most Read Stories