Bernard happy to maintain proud family tradition

IT can’t be easy following in the footsteps of a famous father, being forever judged by someone else’s achievements.

Add a famous older brother into the mix and you might imagine it isn’t easy being Bernard Brogan — junior, that is.

Dad Bernard Snr won All-Ireland and NFL medals with the Dubs in the 1970s, uncle Jim has also represented the county at senior level while elder brother Alan hardly needs any introduction to current fans of the game.

“It’s actually great to have that (support) behind you,” claimed Bernard Jnr, ‘‘my Dad and uncle before me and Alan as well. Alan made it a lot easier for me. He has been the main man for a long time and he has given me tips here and there.”

Bernard was a late starter to the inter-county scene. After missing out on the minor grade, he tore his cruciate in his second year with the U21s but he gave notice of his potential by winning a Sigerson Cup medal with DCU in 2006. Dublin manager Paul Caffrey obviously liked what he saw, naming Brogan on the bench during Dublin’s championship campaign later that year and, when he was given a shot at the team the following season, he grabbed his chance with aplomb.

“I had been hanging around the panel for two years,’’ Brogan recalled. ‘‘I was just waiting, chomping at the bit, to get my chance and it came against Offaly (in the Leinster Championship). I took it. I played well and then got another chance in the Leinster final against Laois. They stuck with me and hopefully I’ll be knocking on the door again this year.”

Brogan’s family ties did Dublin no harm as they navigated their way through last summer with all three demonstrating an intuitive understanding of each other’s games and thought processes. “There is an understanding between us that you mightn’t see with some other players and that is from the club. We talk about what we want to do and where we want the ball.”

Alan won’t start tomorrow’s game in Crossmaglen but Bernard and Sherlock will have another opportunity to work on their understanding against Armagh as Dublin look to seal their place in the Division Two final.

It may only be the league but, with Armagh looking to stave off relegation and a meeting with Meath to follow in the last round, Dublin could hardly have asked for a better launching pad for their championship ambitions.

“It is great to have them so late in the league. It’s still a couple of months to the championship so it is great to have these competitive games. If we get a result from one of those games we would be in the league final as well, which would stand to us before championship.”

* Tomorrow: NFL Division Two: Armagh v Dublin, Crossmaglen, 2.30pm.