the Connaught Telegraph, he was the most consistent performer for Mayo in both 2008 and 2009, when they reached the semi-finals stage of the Christy Ring Cup and Freeman received a Christy Ring All-Star. The same publication said he would be "best remembered for Aghamore's third goal in their 3-5 to 1-9 win over Kilmaine [in 2008] - as his famous twinkle toes chipped the ball over the advancing Kilmaine custodian to seal victory for Aghamore". His career peaked in March 2009 when he played against Leinster in the final in Abu Dhabi, Dubai of the Interprovincial Championship as part of the losing Connaught hurling team during a week-long tour of the Middle East. Like many others at Tooreen Hurling Club the global financial crisis caused Freeman to emigrate in search of a better life. He went to Australia in October 2009, where he gained employment as a sub-contractor on the Barwon Heads bridge. Death Freeman was killed at the age of 24 in a traffic collision whilst in Connewarre, Victoria, Melbourne at 2:40 pm local time (5:40 am Irish time) on 29 May 2010. He was driving a Toyota Camry with Robbie Twomey from Ballahadigue, Listowel, County Kerry, when a Volvo struck the pair of them. Freeman was thought to be driving at his death. Twomey was also killed in the same crash, whilst two others were also in the same car. The men were coming from work when they met their deaths. Freeman's family travelled to Melbourne, arriving by 3 June. Police in Australia investigated the circumstances. Response Spokesperson for Tooreen Hurling Club, Jackie Coyne, said Freeman's death had brought "heart wrenching emptiness" throughout the entire region. There was a minute's silence at the Galway versus Wexford tie in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship quarter-finals at Nowlan Park on 29 May 2010. Other matches were called off. The Gaelic Players Association issued a tribute, with its CEO Dessie Farrell saying the following: "Adrian was a leading player in Mayo hurling and was honoured for his contribution in last year's Christy Ring Cup as well as being chosen for the Connacht interprovincial hurling panel. The death of a young player and his friend is deeply shocking and on behalf of the GPA I would like to pass on our sincere sympathies to the families and friends of Adrian and Robbie (Twomey) and to all Adrian's playing colleagues". A book