Brogan plays down injury fears

Bernard Brogan is battling a similar injury to that which ruined his brother Alan’s 2013 campaign but Dublin supporters can rest easy as the younger sibling is adamant his absence will be for weeks rather than months.

Alan’s first involvement with Jim Gavin’s side on match day last year was as an unused substitute in the All-Ireland final because of an osteitis pubis injury which refused to heal fully and led to ligament problems.

Bernard, speaking at the launch of Red Bull’s ‘Wings for Life World Run 2014’ which aims to get 5,000 people to run the Ring of Kerry in May for spinal cord research, admitted his injury stemmed from naivete.

The 29-year-old explained that a relative lack of game time in 2012 prompted him to play through the O’Byrne Cup and league, as well as in the Interpros with Leinster, and a spell of 11 weeks in a row eventually led to a break down.

That lesson has been learned.

Brogan has all but ruled himself out of Dublin’s opening two Allianz League fixtures, against Kerry at Croke Park on February 1 and away to Westmeath eight days later, which leaves the visit of Cork to Dublin on March 1 as his most likely seasonal debut.

“I’m just rehabbing it now. I’m still building up the groin and the ab muscles and the core. It’s reacting really well. Every week I’m just stepping it up and hopefully I’ll be back on the pitch and out with the lads in the next couple of weeks.”

Some minor surgery before Christmas has helped the recovery process but Brogan has used the frustrating experience of his brother, who suffered a succession of setbacks last year, as a template for his schedule.

Alan has yet to reveal whether he will commit to the Dublin panel for another year but Bernard spoke about the motivation which a sense of unfinished business might provide for the elder of the brothers.

“He’s working away with the guys in the background. He’s in the gym. I’m hoping… I’m not going to speak for him but we’re hoping he’ll make the call [to play on]. He’s been out at training already. So he could be in the shout for the coming league games but that’s the decision he has to make. I’m not sure but we’ll be pushing him in the direction to play another year or two anyway.”

Two fully fit Brogans would add considerable firepower to the reigning All-Ireland champions and Bernard spoke yesterday about how he was never at full tilt last year after picking up the injury on the back of a 1-10 tally against Mayo in March.

“The leg wasn’t really bad but I was carrying it a bit. Just some of the sprint power I had and the kicking… the thing was I wasn’t able to go out and practice my kicking which I usually do twice a week as well as training.

“I wasn’t able to get out and get my eye in. That’s what really affected me. So this year I want to be able to do it right and get it out of the way early and get my preparation right.”