GAA: Having been wrapped in cotton wool throughout the entire league campaign, Bernard Brogan will make his first start for Dublin since last September's All-Ireland final when the champions open their defence against Louth this weekend.
The 2010 footballer of the year, who made his return to club action earlier this month after recovering from a knee injury, is named in a full forward line alongside Kevin McManamon, who’s goal kickstarted Dublin’s revival against Kerry nine months ago.
Despite his lack of game time, Dublin manager Pat Gilroy expects Brogan to hit the ground running at Croke Park on Sunday afternoon after his performances in training and in challenge matches. “Even in the last six weeks Bernard has played a lot of games internally with us and it might take him a game or two to pick it up but it’s not something I would be overly concerned about,” Gilroy said yesterday.
“The flip side is they’ll be really fresh because they haven’t played much football. Take the likes of Alan (Brogan) and Bernard – they have had seven or eight years constantly on the go and maybe getting a break like that is a natural call from their bodies saying they need a break. Hopefully they’ll come back fresh from it.”
Dublin (SFC v Louth): Stephen Cluxton; Philly McMahon, Rory O'Carroll, Michael Fitzsimons; James McCarthy, Ger Brennan, Kevin Nolan; Eamon Fennell, Michael Dara MacAuley; Bryan Cullen, Alan Brogan, Paul Flynn; Diarmuid Connolly, Kevin McManamon, Bernard Brogan