Brogan fired up for title defence

Last Sunday night, with 30 Brogans taking up three tables at Dublin’s medal presentation, Bernard smiled to himself.

It’s moments like those that energise him, he says. They’re addictive and they’ll fill him with the impetus to defend the Sam Maguire Cup next year when he turns 30.

Nothing should sully his second All-Ireland title in a thoroughly deserved success for Dublin. And yet they must still face questions about the lengths they went to in order to protect the lead they cultivated against Mayo.