Brogan perfect leader for new Blues brothers; GAELIC FOOTBALL: LOOKING AHEAD TO A WEEKEND OF CUP ACTION ACROSS IRELAND CLARKE HAILS SKIPPER ALAN.

Byline: Pat Nolan 

DUBLIN selector Paul Clarke believes that handing the captain's armband to Alan Brogan is due recognition for his huge contribution to the side.

Brogan was confirmed as skipper for 2008 this week and takes over from Colin Moran after six years on the panel.

Clarke said: "There are a good number of players who around the squad a long time now and are very experienced and talented and they're all leaders in their own right.

"For Alan it was a little bit of recognition as well. He's been voted an All-Star the last couple of years and he's one of the best players around. Collie Moran was a fantastic captain and leader for the last few years.

"Alan was captain of the Dublin U21s when they won an All-Ireland (in 2003) and I'm sure he'll bring the work that he did there through into the team as well.

"The days of roaring and shouting captains are long gone. A captain leads by example on the pitch and off the pitch and tends to be a good talker and then he lets the football do the talking. I think Alan is well capable of doing that."

With Brogan having led the Dubs to their only All-Ireland U21 title five years ago, he and Clarke are the last two Dublin players to captain teams to national success at underage level.

Clarke, who kicked the winning point in the 1995 All-Ireland senior final win over Tyrone, was captain of the last Dublin minor team to win an All-Ireland in 1984. And staying on the subject on captains, Clarke paid a warm tribute to Coman Goggins, who raised the Leinster Championship trophy in 2002, after he confirmed his retirement from the inter-county scene.

"Everybody, myself included, have a lot of time for Coman. Coman captained Dublin to a Leinster title and he got an All-Star and is a very talented footballer.

"A great leader, a great character in the dressing room and on the pitch he drives the team on by his style of play. Very powerful, very fast, very skillful.

"He's decided to call it a day. We all have to move on and we have to try and find someone to replace him in the squad which will be very hard to do. "He's come to a decision and we respect him 100 percent for that and we wish him the very best of luck."

Brogan will have to wait a little longer before he leads the team out though. Struggling for fitness a little, he starts this evening's O'Byrne Cup quarter-final against Westmeath at Parnell Park on the bench.

Dublin make three changes from the side that beat Wicklow last week with the youngest of the three Brogan brothers, Paul, making his first start at left half-back after impressing when introduced last Saturday.

St Sylvester's 'keeper John Leonard is handed a rare start between the posts in place of Stephen Cluxton while Paul Flynn of Fingallians is introduced at corner forward.

Clarke added: "Paul Brogan contributed well when he came on when Graham Norton got injured.

Paul Flynn came on the last day and we've been looking at Paul.

"He came on the panel during the summer last year. He's young, he's very strong so we put him in on his form as well.

"They're training well, they're playing well for their clubs so they're in on merit and they're in for a reason to go in and play well. It's a great chance for them."

CAPTION(S):

CAPTAIN MARVEL: Alan Brogan and, inset, Collie Moran; ADVISER: Paul Clarke and Dublin manager Paul Caffrey