Brogan embracing Gilroy's system

GAA:The Dublin forward has bought into the new regime and hopes to reap the rewards, writes GAVIN CUMMISKEY

IT MUST have been difficult for Alan Brogan to change the way he plays football. Long recognised as Dublin’s marquee forward, until little brother Bernard came along, he has had to sacrifice individual excellence for Dublin to progress.

But Brogan, like anyone who wants to be a part of Pat Gilroy’s panel, was forced to adopt a selfless approach that was certain to impinge on his natural ability to kick scores. To such an extent that the lungs are sometimes bursting when he is presented with a sight of the posts. “It can be difficult in Croke Park, when you get the chance, to get a shot off; at times you can be too tired to get the shot off properly,” said Brogan.

The Gilroy philosophy is currently accepted as the best way for Dublin to end the now 16-year hunt for an All-Ireland title. Brogan has been a central figure in this quest for 10 seasons now. He, understandably, found it very difficult to adjust to the running game. The tracking back must have seemed like a nuisance for a man of such talent but with Bernard and Diarmuid Connolly taking the positions closer to goal, centre forward is the role he has carved out for himself in the team.

“We certainly had to change the way we played a little bit and there was a lot more defensive duties put on the forwards but looking at it now it definitely worked,” he said.

He admits the Gilroy way took some getting used to: “It took a while to buy into it, alright, like any change takes time to buy into. In fairness to Pat, he asked me to do something, he was not telling me, like he showed us why we need to do it and what would happen if we did do it and that always makes it easier when you can see the results. Now, as we go on, we can see the results.”

Brogan accepts it now; Dublin have always been electric when swashbuckling forward in June and July against Leinster opposition. Bring that into August, though, and the cuter Munster and Ulster boys have always had them out-numbered, out-thought and ultimately out-classed.

“I suppose that was a criticism of ours,” Brogan continued. “We were great going forward, we got lots of scores, but ultimately when it came to the really big matches we conceded too much to win the games.”

Gilroy’s plan is designed to change all that. “I am sure when Pat was watching as a supporter then and he came into the management team one of the first things he decided was we can’t beat a Cork, Kerry, Tyrone or these teams conceding whatever it was, 2-14, 2-15, so his first job was to try and get the scores conceded down. I think we have done that.

“We probably don’t score as much as we used to but we have a better chance of winning conceding less.”

So after 10 years and having served three managers – Tommy Lyons, Paul Caffrey and now Gilroy – Brogan would be forgiven for being bullish about wanting to get a hold of the Sam Maguire. Sure, he captained the under-21s to All-Ireland success in 2004 but they have yet to even reach an All-Ireland senior final. He accepts there is a process now: “We thought we would have got to one by now but as the years pass they all roll into one. Look, it’s not something that’s on my mind every day, an All-Ireland final. You keep going, you play the next match, I am not one that would be worrying about the past or worrying about the future – ‘Jesus, if I don’t play in an All-Ireland final what’s going to happen?’ – just keep going.

“You take each game as it comes, train as hard as you can. That’s all we can do. I can’t get to an All-Ireland final on Sunday.What’s the point in worrying about it?” A seventh Leinster medal will sate his appetite until August, presuming they have too much of everything for Wexford on Sunday.

“They have lost Mattie Forde over the last few years and whilst you would think that would be a huge loss it seems to have galvanised the other guys. It looks like now that a lot of guys lived in Mattie Forde’s shadow and didn’t come out of their shells.

“It’s kind of forced guys to come out. Ciarán Lyng and Redmond Barry are playing super football. They have a lot of pace up front, which can trouble any team in Croke Park. It’s going to be a big test for us.”

ALAN BROGAN: HIGHS & LOWS

Highs

Wins Leinster title in first year on Dublin team, 2002, scoring a goal in the final against Kildare.

Captains Dublin to the under-21 All-Ireland title.

Wins first of two All Stars, at centre forward, in 2006.

Wins second All Star in 2007, at wing forward.

Scores a goal, to complement Bernard's late point, as the Brogans guide Dublin past Down in a National League game at Croke Park. It is a special moment for the family as their grandfather James Brogan was commemorated on the night.

Lows

Loses the 2002 All-Ireland semi-final to Armagh by a point after Ray Cosgrove's late free hits the upright.

Loses the 2005 All-Ireland semi-final to Mayo despite leading by seven points with 15 minutes remaining.

Despite a brilliant individual display, loses the 2007 All-Ireland semi-final to Kerry.

Is suspended for this year's National League final (it would have been his first) after being sent off in the last regular game against Galway.