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Alan Brogan's future plans with Dublin are likely to become clearer this week. Cathal Noonan/INPHO
To Stay Or Go

Alan Brogan's Dublin future is likely to become clearer this week

The 2011 Footballer of the Year is set to sit down with manager Jim Gavin.

ALAN BROGAN WILL meet with Jim Gavin this week to decide whether to remain part of the Dublin camp for the 2015 season and continue his inter-county career.

There has been speculation over Brogan’s career since Dublin lost to Donegal in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final. The 32 year-old admitted before Christmas that the decision over whether to retire or keep playing was one that he ‘was struggling to make’.

But his younger brother Bernard revealed yesterday that a decision is imminent on the 2011 Footballer of the Year’s plans.

“He’’s meeting Jim this week, to make that call, whatever is going to happen.

 I’’m hoping he stays on. I think if you’’re fit and well and have the legs for it there’’s no reason why you shouldn’’t keep playing. I’m sure Jim would see the merit in having a guy of his experience around.”

Bernard Brogan coaches students from St Kevin College Bernard Brogan coaches students from St Kevin's College as part of the Sky Sports Living for Sport masterclass. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

Alan first played for Dublin in 2001 in the league and his career has yielded two All-Ireland senior medals, three Allstar awards and seven Leinster senior titles. His brother believes he can still offer a lot to the Dublin cause.

“It’s obviously about family commitments – he has a new baby coming and he has a kid and a new job. They’re all things that he has to talk with the management about if he does need time off.

“But as an individual, as I said to him, if you think you can still add something – and I believe you can, and I know from talking to the other lads around the camp, everyone does. I’m hoping. I’m confident. I’ve said my piece but it’s down to him and Lydia (Alan’s wife). I’m sure they’ve had long chats.

“I think he’s probably been pushed into this big, massive decision. If that hadn’t happened, he probably would have gone gone and come into training in his own time.  But there was so much talk of it so quickly, that he probably had to think about it himself.”

Bernard and Alan Brogan Bernard and Alan Brogan after Dublin's 2013 All-Ireland win. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

Bernard could be in line for his own seasonal comeback this weekend as Dublin face Meath in the O’Byrne Cup semi-final.

“I have five or six training sessions under my belt so coming into this week it’ll be another tough week’s training. Jim didn’t use me (on Sunday). He said that he had enough guys there. The body feels good, there are no issues. So I’m putting myself forward for it.”

Bernard, Paul and Alan celebrate with the Sam Maguire Bernard, Paul and Alan Brogan celebrate with the Sam Maguire Cup in 2011 James Crombie James Crombie

If Dublin win, Brogan could be set for a potential final showdown against his younger brother Paul, who has been in impressive form for a Dublin IT team that will contest the other O’Byrne Cup semi-final next Sunday against Kildare. Despite suffering three cruciate injuries, Bernard still has faith in his brother’s ability to perform.

“I know he’s my brother but I think he’s a very good footballer. He’s been very unlucky with the club this year, he got another knock and didn’t have full momentum coming into the games, he wasn’t able to play a big part.

“But I think in the three games with DIT, I think he’s got a goal in each game. He’s more an athlete than me and Alan, he’s more of a hard runner with the ball but no I definitely think (there’s a place). He’s 28 now.”

– First published 00.05

Dublin and Meath are set for an O’Byrne Cup semi-final meeting next weekend

Here’s the venues for this year’s AIB All-Ireland senior club semi-finals

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