The 16th Man

LOVE them or hate them, Dublin bring a bit of Hollywood to Gaelic football.

They are the game’s blue chip franchise, drawing in the crowds, sparking debate and inspiring devotion and derision in equal measure (sometimes from their owns fans in a single afternoon).

In Bernard Brogan they finally have a player again that embodies what the Dubs are supposed to be all about. A bit of glamour, some swagger and more than enough skill to back it up.

There’s no doubt that Pat Gilroy’s team are All-Ireland contenders, even though recent events may not have helped their cause.

Losing to Cork in the Football League Division 1 final at the end of May having held an eight-point lead during the second half is sure to have dented confidence.

Brogan is as good a forward as there has been in the game in a long, long time.

But when he went off injured against the Rebels the team lost their shape and direction, showing up an alarming reliance on the current Footballer of the Year.

Gilroy too has a lot of selection headaches before Sunday’s Leinster quarter-final against Laois at Croke Park.

Has Rory O’Carroll got enough football under his belt to start at fullback? If he hasn’t who will play at the edge of the square?

Is there room for Alan Brogan in the attack after he missed out on the League final due to suspension? Will Barry Cahill partner Michael Darragh Macauley in midfield? And there are many more.

They are on the tougher side of the Leinster draw, but they are more than good enough to make the All-Ireland quarter-finals and the football only really starts on the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Where it goes from there is anyone’s guess. If someone could knock Cork out for them it could be a very long way indeed.

They are in an elite band of teams alongside the Rebels, Kerry and Tyrone, who are all in action this weekend. They are built to play in Croke Park, with the size and pace to make that big pitch look small.

They have a proven match-winner in Bernard Brogan and whenever he is on the field they will have a chance.

If Diarmuid Connolly can step up his game and become the top-class target man that he has the potential to be it will form another vital piece of the jigsaw.

Self-belief now is probably the biggest single issue they have to address and that is not easy to do.

Cork, Kerry and Tyrone all have the iron-clad will that comes with winning All-Ireland and breaking into that golden circle is going to be difficult for Dublin.