Brothers in Sport

by Donal Keenan

  In the years since the Carlow game Alan has become one of the most celebrated forwards of his generation and has been joined on the Dublin team by his brothers Bernard and Paul. The younger Brogans have both had to battle with serious injury during their careers. Bernard has already established himself as a footballer and athlete of great power and skill; Paul was recalled to the Dublin squad in 2010 and is being nursed back to full health after a serious knee injury. The three brothers have played together with Dublin in the O’Byrne Cup and will surely share the county dressing-room for a few years to come. Their parents Bernard and Maria still attend every game, lending support. A new generation of the Brogan dynasty is also making the journey to Croke Park and other venues. Jamie, Alan’s young son with his partner Lydia (they will marry at the end of 2010), is his dad’s greatest supporter these days.

  * * *

  The Brogan’s were Navan Road people and that meant they were Oliver Plunkett’s players. It was a junior club in the early 1970s, a time when whatever little limelight shone on Dublin football sent its rays across the northside to the bigger clubs like St Vincent’s. You were guaranteed good fun and good mentoring when you played with Plunkett’s, but with that came a degree of anonymity that did not enhance a young man’s chances of playing for Dublin. Bernard Brogan was a nineteen-year-old student in 1974 when Kevin Heffernan was plotting the Dublin revolution. Heffo heard about this youngster on the Navan Road. He went for a look and liked what he saw. But playing for Dublin at the time wasn’t like playing for Dublin today. Bernard was a serious student and was reluctant to make a commitment. However, he quickly learned that Heffo didn’t understand the word ‘no’ and as the bandwagon began to roll in that unforgettable summer, Bernard was jostling for a starting place, recovering from injury and giving Heffernan difficult selection choices. In the Leinster semi-final against Offaly he was going well when he suffered a serious knee injury. It took him seven months to recover.

  In his career with Dublin he started as a forward, but it was when he was partnered with Brian Mullins at midfield that Bernard became one of the most respected participants in what has been termed the golden age of Gaelic football. The rivalry that developed between Dublin and Kerry is the most written about in the game and Bernard played a major part in the story. For a period during that era he lived in Kerry and met his wife, Maria Keane Stack from Listowel.

  Bernard’s brother Jim also broke into the Dublin panel. It is said on the Navan Road and elsewhere in the county that if there hadn’t been a corner back as good as Gay O’Driscoll around at the time that Jim would have featured much more prominently for the county. He did play as a substitute in the 1977 All-Ireland final and was at centre half back for the 1978 National League final.

  By the end of the 1975 the Mullins-Brogan midfield partnership had been cemented. Though Dublin lost the All-Ireland final to Kerry, they re-grouped and won the 1976 and 1977 Championships. In the midst of that series of matches was the famous 1977 All-Ireland semi-final in which Kerry were again the opponents. Regarded today as one of the greatest games of football ever played, it featured a spectacular goal from Bernard which helped seal Dublin’s victory.

  It was an era of great midfielders. The All Star list of honours for the period proves that – Liam Sammon, Willie Bryan, Mick O’Connell, John O’Keeffe, Denis Long, Dermot Earley, Paudie Lynch, Colm McAlarney, Brian Mullins, Dave McCarthy, Joe Kernan, Tomás Connor and Jack O’Shea. Bernard Brogan joined the All Stars honours list in 1979. Dublin had lost a second consecutive All-Ireland final to Kerry that year, but Brogan’s contribution to their season secured the All Star award for him.

  Bernard’s career with Dublin had ended by the time he and Maria started a family. Alan was born in 1982, Bernard junior arrived three years later and then Paul followed. As kids they regularly pulled out the old videos and watched the great games featuring their father. They were also fascinated by the videos of Bernard’s successful involvement in the television programme, The Superstars, in which prominent sportsmen competed against each other in a variety of events. Bernard was national champion in 1979 and competed with distinction in the international series.

  From an early age all three boys showed a healthy interest in sport. Bernard and Maria had set up home in Castleknock. The local club was St Brigid’s, but it could not be counte-nanced that the young Brogan’s would play for anyone other than Oliver Plunkett’s. They attended St Declan’s school, where their football education was furthered. And they became very aware from an early stage of the legacy their famous father had left them. Like all sons of famous footballers they became accustomed to the comparisons and the questions. Even today Alan reckons the question he is most often asked concerns his father and whether Bernard’s senior’s achievements exerted pressure on the shoulders of his sons. ‘The thing is,’ he explains, ‘there was never any pressure from our father. He let us do what we wanted. He encouraged us in every way no matter what sport we decided to play. And he went to every game whether it was Gaelic or soccer. He let us make up our own minds about what we wanted to do and he supported us fully.’

  As well as Gaelic football, the boys played soccer for Castleknock Celtic and Bernard senior coached some of the soccer teams. They were good soccer players too. But the lure of Gaelic football proved strongest. Another major influence was the involvement of their uncle Jim with the Dublin football team from 1991 to 1995 as a selector. That had a particular impact on Alan who recalls his uncle getting him access to the Dublin dressing-room in Croke Park after they had won the All-Ireland title in 1995. It gave him an even greater sense of what football and success could mean.

  In St Declan’s Alan began to attract notice on his own merit, while the Brogan name brought added attention. He played on a decent team that included Barry Cahill, Declan Lally and Kevin Bonnar, all future Dublin players. In 1999 they reached the Leinster Colleges semi-final, but were beaten. Alan was suspended for that game having been sent off in the quarter-final and old teachers still give him a hard time about it when they meet.

  The Dublin minor selectors quickly added him to their squad and the team reached the Leinster final, beating Wexford in a replay. Despite losing to Down in the All-Ireland semi-final, after another replay, Alan Brogan had made his first tentative steps in an inter-county football career and the Brogan name was again on the lips of Dublin fans.

  Bernard followed his older brother’s early forays with Dublin with natural enthusiasm. He was still playing soccer with Castleknock, but watching Alan fuelled his enthusiasm for the Gaelic variety of football. Though he carried his father’s famous name, Bernard junior never felt any real pressure. ‘Of course, there was a little bit,’ he explains, ‘but the fact that Alan was there for a few years before I came along took the pressure off me really. It was more difficult for him because he was bringing the Brogan name back to Dublin. People were used to it when I starting playing. It would have been hard for him, but you can see how well he coped. He has been the outstanding Dublin footballer for nearly ten years, always performed on the big day.’

  In his second year playing under-21 football for Dublin, 2002, Alan played in his first All-Ireland final. Attitudes to the grade had changed dramatically in the capital since its inception. Strangely Dublin had rarely made an impact at under-21 level since the introduction of the Championship in 1965. Only twice in the history of the competition had they reached the All-Ireland final, in 1975 and 1980. At the start of the twenty-first century there was a greater focus on the under-21 team. A talented group that included Stephen Cluxton, Paul Griffin, Paul Casey, Bryan Cullen, Darren Magee, Conal Keaney, Declan Lally, Tomás ‘Mossy’ Quinn and Alan won the Leinster title, but lost to a strong Galway team in the final.

  Alan had been drafted into the Dublin senior squad at the start of 2002. His first senior game was against Donegal in Parnell Park. He scored a goal and three points. Throughout the season the manager, Tommy Lyons, threw a protective shield around the young p
layer, who could not resist attracting notice with the maturity he was displaying on the field and the consistency of his scoring returns. The World Cup might have overshadowed his Championship debut that summer when just 8,000 supporters turned up in Carlow, but by 23 June the Dubs had packed Hill 16 for a provincial semi-final joust with Meath, the defending champions, played in front of 65,868 patrons. Dublin won by seven points, 2–11 to 0–10. Ray Cosgrove scored 2–3, while Alan scored three points. World Cup! What World Cup?

  By 7 July the fever was rising. Dublin and Kildare came face to face in the Leinster final. Just over 78,000 supporters thronged Croke Park. They witnessed a titanic struggle and a goal from Alan that he still regards as one of the highlights of his career. It came in the second half and inspired Dublin’s victory. He also scored two points. Cosgrove continued on his scoring spree and contributed 1–3. Dublin won by 2–13 to 2–11. Alan had his first Leinster Senior Football Championship medal and an early taste of a career playing in front of packed houses in the spanking new Croke

  Park.

  They needed a replay to beat Donegal in the All-Ireland quarter-final and went forward to meet one of the new powers of football, Armagh, in the semi-final. It was yet another tight struggle. Alan gave the pass that set up Ciaran Whelan’s goal. With less than ten minutes remaining Dublin led by two points. Armagh fought back and scored two points to level the game. With four minutes of normal time left, Oisín McConville fisted a point to give Armagh the lead. Dublin pressed for an equaliser. Cosgrove, who enjoyed a brilliant season for Dublin, narrowly missed a late free. Dublin lost by a point. A total of 387,642 people had passed through the turnstiles that summer to see Dublin play. It would become a familiar pattern over the rest of the decade.

  A surprise loss to Laois in the 2003 Championship provided a little respite. Alan was completing his studies and focused on his role as captain of the Dublin under-21s, while continuing to play for the senior team. A comforting presence in the squad was that of Bernard. He had been making an impression at club level, but missed out on playing minor football for Dublin because of injuries. His involvement in 2003 was, he says, peripheral, but it provided him with experience that would be invaluable. Dublin retained the Leinster title and reached the All-Ireland under-21 final where they played Tyrone. Amongst opponents who would become very familiar were Dermot Carlin, Seán Cavanagh, Kevin Hughes and Martin Penrose. Dublin won by five points, 0–12 to 0–7, and Alan Brogan became the first Dublin captain to lift the All-Ireland under-21 trophy.

  So young, so much already achieved and with four years of third level education behind him, Alan needed a break. He headed for Australia with Lydia, where he attended the International Rules test in Melbourne and the Rugby World Cup game between Ireland and Australia. The couple travelled, worked for a while and enjoyed life. From time to time the phone rang. Tommy Lyons was keeping a long distance watch on his young player. The longer Alan was away, the more anxious the manager became. Alan kept in shape but the manager wanted him home. In March 2004 the couple returned to Ireland and Alan to football.

  Over the next six years Alan experienced some of the greatest highs and some haunting lows on what can only be described as a football roller-coaster. 2004 was a disappointment, when Dublin were surprisingly beaten by Westmeath in the Leinster semi-final and by Kerry in the All-Ireland quarter-final. That led to the departure of Lyons as manager. Paul ‘Pillar’ Caffrey took over and Dublin won the next four Leinster Championships. But the failure to make the All-Ireland breakthrough was a frustration and Caffrey departed in 2008. Pat Gilroy took over and another Leinster title was bagged. Alan had six in total at the end of 2009, but the lingering memory was of another All-Ireland series disappointment, this one a shattering defeat to Kerry in the quarter-final.

  Through those years Dublin was part of some of the most dramatic games in Championship football; the semi-final of 2002 against Armagh was the first. The drawn and replayed All-Ireland quarter-final against Tyrone in 2005, which featured Owen Mulligan’s famous goal, followed. They managed to lose the 2006 semi-final to Mayo, lost to Kerry in the 2007 semi-final by just two points and then suffered two heavy defeats in the quarter-finals of 2008 and 2009 respectively to Tyrone and Kerry – both teams went on to win the All-Ireland title.

  You remind Alan of his involvement in so many big games and he responds quietly: ‘Yeah, but unfortunately we lost them all. In 2008 and 2009 we were favourites to beat both Tyrone and Kerry just because we had won handy enough Leinster Championships. I don’t know how or why we get the label of favourites. Tyrone and Kerry have been the two teams that we have always struggled with during my time with Dublin. I think the only time Dublin have beaten Kerry was in this year’s League and I wasn’t even playing,’ he laughs.

  Bernard admits that in terms of his Dublin career he was a late starter. He doesn’t make any excuses. A couple of years on the bench he insists were great preparation for his breakthrough in 2007. But a little research shows how injury delayed his introduction to the game at the highest level and then interrupted the progress that his talent and desire ensured would be made. He never played on the Dublin minor team because of injury, his 2004 season as an under-21 was ruined by knee problems. In 2005 he was injury free, won a Leinster under-21 medal and was elevated to the senior squad. But he had to wait almost two full seasons before Paul Caffrey decided that the second Brogan brother was ready for the heat of the Championship.

  ‘I did have a long apprenticeship,’ Bernard says with a smile. ‘But the time spent on the bench between 2005 and 2007 wasn’t a waste. I was with the lads in Croke Park on the big days. I got used to the crowds, to the noise and all that is associated with big days. Some players come to Croke Park to play for the first time and they are affected by the stadium and the atmosphere. When I got my chance in 2007 I had no nerves. I was ready for it.’

  He made his Championship debut against Meath in June 2007 as a substitute in the Leinster quarter-final replay against Meath. He was selected to start in the semi-final against Offaly and the provincial final against Laois. Alan scored a goal and a point. Bernard registered the same tally as Dublin won by 3-14 to 1-14. Bernard remained a first choice half forward until Dublin lost to Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final. Alan won his second consecutive All Star award at the end of 2007. Bernard was a nominee in his first full year as a regular.

  Then injury struck again, in 2008. A bad hamstring tear allowed him just a few minutes of action in the Leinster Championship. He returned for the All-Ireland quarter-final against Tyrone and kicked three points. But we hadn’t seen the real Bernard Brogan. Followers of club football in Dublin, however, were getting the real thing. Oliver Plunkett’s qualified for the Dublin Senior Championship final. Replays and re-fixtures delayed the final and Bernard had to pull out of the Ireland squad departing for Australia for the International Rules series. It was a sacrifice he was glad to make. Club means a lot. The three Brogan brothers and their cousin lined out in the Championship final. Bernard produced a scintillating performance against Kilmacud Crokes and scored ten points, seven from play. It was not enough for victory, but the new Dublin manager, Pat Gilroy, left Parnell Park with a big smile on his face. Gilroy was another St Vincent’s man, just like Kevin Heffernan thirty years previously, looking across north Dublin towards the Navan Road and making space for Bernard Brogan on his team.

  Ask Alan about the highlights of his career and he quickly mentions the under-21 success and the Leinster Championship successes, before adding ‘and then to see Bernard do so well in 2009 against Westmeath and Kildare. That was very satisfying. I always expected him to make the breakthrough and I actually expected it would have come earlier. I always knew he would get his place.’

  Bernard started the 2009 campaign injury free and ready to perform. He scored a few points against Meath and then exploded. As Dublin demolished Westmeath he scored 2–8. He added another ten points in the Leinster final as Dublin overcame the spirited
and stylish opposition presented by Kildare. As the wheels came off the wagon against Kerry in August, Bernard tried to make a battle of the encounter. It brought the season to a disappointing end, but no one could forget the brilliance Bernard displayed at times during the Leinster campaign.

  Trying to explain precisely what happened that day is difficult. Alan tries: ‘They’re such a good footballing side and they try to play the game like it should be played. We were all built up for a good start and it didn’t happen. They got a great start and when it didn’t happen for us we were looking at each other with our mouths open wondering what are we going to do now? When you get a bad start like that against a team like Kerry it is very difficult to claw it back. We weren’t capable of doing it.’

  * * *

  Watching the old videos from the 1970s, Alan often wonders what it would have been like to play in that era. ‘When a corner forward got around his man in those days he was generally in on goal. Today with the emphasis on defence and half forwards floating back into defence you don’t get that sort of space. From that point of view I would have liked to have played in the 1970s,’ he says. Bernard quickly adds: ‘You’d have got a few more slaps as well.’