Injury rules Brogan out of early inter-county season

Former Footballer of the Year Alan Brogan will miss the opening stages of the 2013 inter-county season in the hope that a groin injury clears up fully.

The injury dogged Brogan during last summer's Championship and threatened his participation in Dublin's All-Ireland SFC semi-final defeat to Mayo in September.

Brogan is set to be sidelined with Osteitis pubis for a number of months as the Dubs launch Jim Gavin's managerial tenure in the O'Byrne Cup and Allianz League.

"I'm not even sure what (the injury) is myself to be honest. I think it just takes time and if it doesn't clear over time it may need an operation," admitted the star forward.

"But I haven't decided to go down that route yet. It certainly will need two or three months. I won't be playing in the O'Byrne Cup anyway."

At this stage, it also looks like the St. Oliver Plunkett's/Eoghan Ruadh clubman will be sidelined for the first two or three rounds of matches in the Allianz League.

The Dubs get their Division 1 campaign underway at home to Cork on Sunday, February 2, and follow that with games against Kerry (away) and Mayo (home).