This is not good enough.
At 35 years of age, Alan Brogan has done it all. A Footballer of the Year, a three-time All-Ireland champion and a bona fide legend not just of his own county but on the of the whole island too.
He’s never tasted success with his club though. Three times he’s helped Oliver Plunkett’s to the championship final but three times they have fallen agonisingly short.
2008: Kilmacud Crokes 3-6 Plunkett’s 0-13
2011: St. Brigid’s 0-10 Plunkett’s 0-8
2014: St. Vincent’s 0-14 Plunkett’s 1-10
To win a Dublin title you have to be one of the best teams in the country and Eoghan Ruadh could probably have laid some claim to being up there but they have nothing to show for it.
So they rallied again and put last year’s All-Ireland champions to the sword in the first round with a three-point win over Ballyboden. Then the harshness of the open draw continued as they were pitted with 2016 Dublin finalists Castleknock in the second round – and they should’ve won.
Eight minutes from time, Alan Brogan put Plunkett’s four ahead with a finish so typically cool of the legendary forward.
But a Ciaran Kilkenny-inspired Castleknock kept chipping away and reduced the arrears to the minimum for the last play of the game.
Plunkett’s were holding on and then they had done just enough when Brogan brilliantly intercepted a Kilkenny pass and was actually fouled himself.
The referee, however, gave the free the other way and even moved it in 10 yards for dissent. Castleknock equalised to tie the game at 2-11 to 2-11.
The action was captured brilliantly by Dubs TV but this decision is horrendous.
That should’ve been game over after Brogan’s heroics but it was the equaliser and the last piece of action. Once the ball was kicked out after the free, the ref blows for full time.
The teams go into extra time and Castleknock prevail by three, winning 2-18 to 2-15 in the end.
To make it worse, Plunkett’s were also punished with a very harsh penalty against them earlier in the game. Ciaran Kilkenny wasn’t even looking for it.
Now meaningful football is over for Plunkett’s for the rest of the year.
They should be preparing for a quarter-final. Instead, their season is basically finished. And Alan Brogan might never get another shot at that Dublin championship.
Watch all the highlights below in what is brilliant coverage from Dublin GAA. The ‘foul’ at the end is at 6:40.
