Whelan: Dublin depend too much on Brogan

DUBLIN must reduce the responsibility for scoring on Bernard Brogan if they are to build on this year’s All-Ireland semi-final appearance, according to Ciarán Whelan.

Manager Pat Gilroy has consistently played down his county’s reliance on Brogan for goals and points but the statistics simply do not support his argument. Brogan scored 3-32 in Dublin’s seven championship outings, a figure which accounted for over a remarkable 41% of his side’s scores. Next was Tomas Quinn who registered 0-12, much of it from frees.

Clearly, Dublin require the likes of Alan Brogan, the long-term injured Mark Davoren or the out-of-favour Conal Keaney to make bigger contributions.

“They have the best player in the country in Bernard Brogan, who scored 1-6 from play on Sunday,” said Whelan on Joe.ie “and, barring a massive performance from somebody else in the final two games of the year, looks almost certain to win the Footballer of the Year award.

“Given normal progression from the rest of the team, and if someone can step forward to share the burden with Bernard, you have to say that Dublin should be a real contender for All-Ireland honours in 2011.

“Unfortunately, the over-reliance on Bernard Brogan proved a step too far against a Cork side which were able to call on much greater depth, such as the recalled Donncha O’Connor and second half substitute Colm O’Neill.”

Whelan believes the future is bright for Dublin.

“It’s soul-destroying for the players involved, but the vast majority have plenty of years left. It’s a radically new team and it’s a team with a future. Of the 15 who started against Cork, there were only four survivors – the two Brogans, Stephen Cluxton and David Henry – from the last championship game I started two years ago.”