RETIRING DUBLIN GAA star Alan Brogan says he was comfortable with his decision to call it a day following a distinguished career.
Speaking on Newstalk’s Off the Ball, Brogan says he spent plenty of time contemplating his future both this year and last, before telling Dublin boss Jim Gavin that his mind was made up yesterday.
“I’ve been thinking about it for a couple of weeks — last week it became real.
It was an emotional day yesterday and this morning.
“It was the right decision for myself, my family and the dressing room.”
Brogan suggested Gavin had wanted him to stay and “left the door open” for a potential return.
However, the three-time All-Ireland winner added: “At this stage of a career, you need to make decisions yourself and not be influenced by what’s going on around you.
I spoke to my family and gave myself two or three months.”
Brogan also recalled how he “strongly” considered calling it a day last year, but ultimately opted to play on.
“I decided: ‘Right, I’m going to give this one last go and try to end on a high.’
“I would have preferred to be starting and liked to have got more game time. But to come on and kick the last score (in the 2015 All-Ireland final) — you couldn’t write the script.
I might have been pushing it if I went for to go for another year. Not many guys are playing at my age — I knew I was coming to the end of the road, the legs were starting to go.
“I probably wouldn’t have had the 70 minutes in me… The 20-minute role probably did suit me, so I was happy with it.”
