Bernard Brogan
By John Harrington
Alan Brogan has backed his brother Bernard to come back next year hungrier than ever after being dropped from the Dublin starting XV for the All-Ireland Final replay against Mayo.
The younger Brogan sibling paid the price for an under-par performance in the drawn match when he was held scoreless.
That was one of three Championship matches he failed to score in over the course of the campaign as he finished with a final tally of 1-10 from seven matches.
That’s quite a bit less than his 6-21 tally from 2015, but Alan Brogan believes his brother can prove once again in 2017 that he remains one of the elite finishers in the game.
“I think so yeah,” said Brogan. “He'd a quiet year a couple of years ago and he came back last year and kicked 6-21. He's judged by his own very high standards as well by everybody so if he has a quiet year on the scoring front, he's nearly written off.
“He was obviously dropped for the final there but he came on and he made a difference...He might have to change the way he plays a little bit, have a look at a couple of different things but he's very committed to the Dublin cause.
“I think we'll certainly see him back good and early next year and he'll be hungry for it again. He knows he's probably coming into his last year or two so that can give you an extra bounce in terms of training proper hard knowing that it's your last year or two so I was glad to hear he's coming back. I think he certainly has another year or two in him.”
Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Aogán Ó Fearghail, left, and Alan Brogan, Commercial Directior Custodian Print, in attendance at the launch of GAA Purchase Power at Croke Park.
Brogan believes his brother isn’t the only veteran in the Dublin panel who still has a lot to give to the cause. Goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton is 35 but continues to set the standard for every other player in his position nation-wide, and Brogan thinks he can continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
“He'd be one of the fittest out there as well. If you looked at his results in body fat measurements, that kind of stuff, he'd be one of the fittest guys there. I think he certainly has another three or four years there if he wanted to.
“Whether he wants to do it or not remains to be seen. He's a private enough fella and he'll make up his own mind whenever it suits or if he feels there's something better coming behind he'll make the call as well but there'd be definitely another three or four years in him if he wants.”
Cluxton’s accurate distribution from kick-outs and open play is key to the Dublin game-plan, and Brogan admits he’ll be a massive loss to the team whenever he does decide to retire from inter-county football.
“He's probably not replaceable at the moment. It's a bit like when John O'Leary retired. He's been very settled there, the guys playing in front of him obviously know him so well.
“They know everything about him. Like, his kick-outs, there's probably no-one in Ireland with the same level of consistent kick-outs. So for someone to come in and replace him would be very difficult, but it's going to happen at some stage.
“So I think that's something Jim and the Dublin management probably need to be looking at in terms of getting a guy games.
“I suppose it's one of them where guys wait until the end of the year to say they're retiring, he's probably one that would rather like to know a year or two in advance when he's finishing up so you could start to bring somebody in to take that spot over. Because if he goes and they throw someone in the following year, they're going to be huge boots to fill, there's no doubt about it.”
Stephen Cluxton raises the Sam Maguire Cup.
One legend of the modern game who won’t play next year is Kerry’s Marc Ó Sé who announced his retirement from inter-county football yesterday. The Kingdom defender had some great battles with both Brogan brothers over the years on the pitch, but off it he and Alan are firm friends.
“Yeah we went to Maynooth together. We were good friends then, we'd still be good friends. I was invited to his wedding, I couldn't go, he was at my wedding. So we've been good friends over the years.
“We've often knocked off each other after the championship is over. He's had an amazing Kerry career, probably it's fair to say he's been the best corner-back of the last 15 years. Can't think of any much better than him.
“He's 35, 36 now so probably time, all good things come to an end at some stage. He's had an amazing career, he'll be sorely missed down in Kerry. I suppose he's the last association of the O'Se's with that great Kerry team. They'll be sorry to see him go.”
