BOWING OUT WITH an All-Ireland medal in the back pocket would be a fitting end to a stellar career but Bernard Brogan insists his brother hasn’t made a decision about his inter-county future just yet.
Alan Brogan contemplated retirement 12 months ago but decided to play on for another year and helped Dublin to lift the Sam Maguire for the third time in five years.
Speculation has since been rife that the 0-12 to 0-9 win over Kerry was the 33-year-old’s swansong in blue and Bernard admits it would be a nice time for Alan to hang up his boots.
“I’ve half mentioned it to him but he’s standing firm at the moment,” Bernard said. “During the year he was gone and that was it, done. It was his way out, ‘One more year and please God we get the All-Ireland’.
“I’d say, just the way it ended he would have liked more time and would have liked more involvement but just it was a fairytale ending.
“There’s positivity in his mind when he thinks of Dublin at the moment and I’ve said it to you before, when you can’t offer any more as a player, if you think there’s somebody beside you that can offer more or the young lads coming up, that’s when you step away.
“But if you still think you have something to add to that team you owe it to the others to keep going. It’s difficult for a fella like Alan, who would have played 13 years, every game first name on the sheet, captain, all the works, to play in that bit-part role, it’s a very difficult thing to do mentally for someone like that.
“So that’s a challenge that he’ll have to make, would he be willing to do something similar and for the team. I’d definitely say he has something to offer.
After coming on in the 66th minute in the triumph over the Kingdom, Brogan demonstrated his enduring worth with a late cameo to see Jim Gavin’s men over the line.
And while his body is still up to the task of inter-county football, Bernard admits his older brother now has additional commitments which will play a big part in his decision.
“He has a career to go after now, he’s getting a little bit older and a family to look after. As much as we love the GAA, when you have a family there’s other things to think about as well.
“I’m sure he’ll make a decision but at the moment he’s very much just enjoying the ride. It’s been a really nice way to finish it for him but hopefully not.
Dublin players, including Bernard Brogan, were at AIG Insurances offices in Dublin for a reception to mark their GAA Football All-Ireland Championship success.
No sour grapes but Kerry won all their league games and should be playing 1b next year. How else are tier 2 county’s to progress. Sure they would have shipped a big loss or too but it might be better than easing in to a pointless league final. Offaly should be in div 2 as a kick in the a… For failing to perform all year.
Hurling league is a joke. It’s 10 times harder to get relegated than get promoted. GAA protect the traditional counties and screw those trying to make an impact
I agree completely but it’s not offaly who should be relegated it’s aintrim, they finished bottom of div 1a with 0 points. Offaly had 3 points but lost to Antrim in stupid relegation game. Kerry were hard done by for sure.
So Offaly, who have already lost a relegation play off to Antrim and should therefore have been relegated get a second chance to stay up and Kerry who won all their games (including the div 2a FINAL) have to stay in 2a? What’s the point in having a ‘final’ if there’s no reward for winning?
How is hurling in the ‘weaker counties’ supposed to improve if they’re not given a chance? Absolute farce.
Its a joke really even Brain Whealan admitted that if fair was fair this game shouldn’t have happened and Offaly should have been relegated and Kerry promoted, However its not Offaly’s fault that this is the way the league was set-up. Hopefully Offaly can kick on from here. I’m from Offaly BTW
Offaly drew with Limerick and beat Antrim in the group so had 3 points and Antrim finished bottom with 0 points so should have been relegated.
But Antrim put out a near second team for the last day of the league against Offaly as there was nothing to play for and out their strongest team to beat them in the play off. They wouldn’t have rested players for the final league game otherwise.
There was a barrow load wrong with the way league was set up this year, first of all Antrim brought the game into disrepute by resting 14 player for the last league game against Offaly in Tullamore (Which Offaly won at a canter).
Then why was the playoff played in Ballycastle uo in the very north of Antrim even though Offaly had 3 points and Antrim finished with 0 points.
Surly the game should have been in a neutral venue.
Also if you win Division 2A as Kerry did then surly to God that team deserves to get promoted. I mean Who D Funk put this system together, my kids junior infants class would have done a better job
Offaly finished the league with 3 points Antrim with none, antrim should be gone, I fail to see the point of playoffs at all. Completely unnecessary.
Offaly deserved to remain in Div 1B – it was Antrim who failed to register a single point all year and should be in Division 2 with Kerry taking their place in 1B next year.
Offaly lost the relegation play off against Antrim so therefore they don’t deserve anything, you really are clueless just like the people who decided this second play off should have happened.
FDL is correct. Offaly new their fate was to be decided in that playoff.
There should have been no playoff finish bottom of the group you should be relegated. What’s the purpose of these playoffs?
I wonder do we get a cup!? #fishing
Opportunity missed to expand hurling counties in Ireland. But don’t worry Sky are going to bring brilliant exposure to it in the UK.