‘Dublin won’t win without Alan’

Former Dublin footballer Shane Ryan has reiterated Alan Brogan’s importance to the current crop by claiming they will not retain the All-Ireland title this year unless the 2011 Player of the Year is fully fit.

Brogan missed the All-Ireland quarter-final win against Laois as a result of the groin injury, which forced him off in the first half of the Leinster final victory over Meath, but has participated in a handful of training sessions in the last week.

Manager Pat Gilroy declared himself “fairly confident” the All Star forward would be fit and available for this Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final against Mayo, although it should be noted he was named for the Laois game and subsequently played no part.

“It would make a big difference,” said Ryan of his former team-mate’s fitness. “He’s so important. Likewise with Andy Moran being out for Mayo, he’s such an important cog for them. He’ll make a big difference to them. For Dublin to at least beat Mayo and go all the way, they need Alan Brogan fully fit.

“He pulls so many strings. Between himself and Bernard, they’re the last two players of the year. Alan just creates so much. He’s such a hard worker, he’s so hard to keep tabs on. When he gets the ball he causes havoc in opposition defences so even by having him on the field you’re already causing a bit of mayhem there for the opposition.”

Ryan, who has spent the last few seasons reporting for duty with Anthony Daly’s Dublin hurlers, served almost a decade alongside Brogan under Tommy Lyons and Paul Caffrey and was an integral part of the team that lost the 2006 semi-final to Mayo in such sensational circumstances.

Even now, he has little hesitation in describing that epic defeat as the most painful of his career but he doesn’t believe it will have any relevance when two counties what with so many new faces line out on this occasion at Croke Park.

Of far more import is the form of both sides this year.

“From the Mayo point of view they might know a bit less [about themselves]. Dublin have gone through the whole of last year and won the All-Ireland. Mayo obviously seem to have made big strides with [James] Horan and they’ll probably feel, ‘how far can we go with this?’ “They’re an improving team and they’ve done well so far this year but the match against Dublin will really show where they are.”

Ryan and his hurling colleagues would dearly love to reach an All-Ireland semi-final without hitting top gear. Instead, they find themselves looking back on a disastrous 2012 and waiting to see whether Daly will recommit for next season.

The word is the Clare man will be back, a real bonus for the 2010 league champions, according to Ryan.

“I think we can all agree how he has changed the fortunes of Dublin over the last few years,” he said. “He’s brought such a new buzz about the county and the first bit of proper

success in so many years and from that point of view the players believe in him.

“This year was such a poor year overall. Maybe the problem was the players didn’t believe in themselves as much but the set-up he brought to the scene and the new young fellas he has given a chance to means its important he stays on and there is that continuity.

“I think he’ll feel there is more left in him and the team and there is unfinished business.”