BERNARD BROGAN HAS ruled himself out of Dublin’s glamour opening league game against Kerry next month as he battles a persistent groin injury.
The All-Ireland champions open their 2014 league campaign in in Division 1 clash in Croke Park against Kerry on Saturday February 1st.
But Brogan will not be available for that match and the following week’s trip to Mullingar to take on Westmeath may also come too soon for the attacker. That would leave the March 1st tie against Cork as a more realistic target for the 2014 bow of Dublin’s goal hero from last September’s All-Ireland final.
“It’s a problem with my groin. Last year I kind of broke down a bit and took a month off before the summer. I never really caught fire again. I was struggling through the summer.
“I was getting through games but I wasn’t on top form. Jim (Gavin) has given me a good bit of time to recover so I’ve been working away with the physios and medical team. I wouldn’t say the Kerry game is a runner.
“I’m just rehab-ing it now. I’m still building up the groin and the ab muscles and the core. It’s reacting really well. I had a minor bit (of surgery) before Christmas but nothing major. It feels good so I’m looking forward to getting back.”
Brogan admits that he will have to be manage his schedule this season.
“The last four years have been long years for Dublin. You start training at the end of December or the start of January so you run through until September and then you’ve got club football to play through. It does take a toll on the body.
“Last year the leg wasn’t really bad but I was carrying it a bit. I wasn’t able to go out and practice my kicking which I usually do twice a week as well as training. This year I want to be able to do it right and get it out of the way early and get my preparation right.”
Bernard Brogan was present at the launch of the Wings For Life Run yesterday
