Brogan says lesson was learned after melee

CHAMPIONSHIP 2008 NEWS:BERNARD BROGAN is speaking about the Meath fallout and his subsequent eight-week suspension. "Yeah, it's a learning curve so it is and something that I will take on board in the future and try not to let happen again."

What lesson can you learn as you didn't actually throw any digs? Nobody did. The same point was put to Bryan Cullen after his suspension against Tyrone in the 2006 league game in Omagh.

"Best thing to do is to go in and try and keep your hands down and try and defuse (he stalls amid increasing laughter) . . . and don't wear red gloves," said Brogan.

The melee itself undoubtedly deserved sanctioning. It portrayed Gaelic football in a bad light. The new disciplinary arm was duly cranked into gear. Names were needed. Brogan was one, perhaps harshly plucked from the pack.

What did the Dublin management say to the players? "They thought the sentences were very harsh as well. They accepted the sendings-off and stuff. Obviously it had to be dealt with on the day or the match would get out of control.

"They talked to the media and felt our hearings were compromised because of some of the things in the media. Pillar (Paul Caffrey) has been in these situations before and whoever is involved with Dublin over the next few years will see it again. You got to understand that's what happens when you play with Dublin."

On Sunday, back in Croke Park, Brogan should feature in the Leinster semi-final against Westmeath. At 24, he is hardly a novice to this environment but last year was his championship debut. Long considered at least an equal to older brother Alan, injury curtailed his progress. Until 2007 that is, when several shining performances saw him nominated for an All Star.

Does he worry about second-season syndrome? "Obviously for a young lad coming in it might have had more of a bearing. I'd been around the panel for a year or two before I made my step up. I've seen Croke Park manys a day. I've been around. I don't feel the second-year syndrome will affect me as much. I'm an experienced head, 24 now."

It must have been a difficult few weeks. Knowing he would not be involved against Louth. Knowing those who performed well in the forwards could deny him a starting place.

"We tried not to let it influence any of the lads in training or influence any of the preparations for the championship. I went a bit further than the other lads in my appeal but we did it quietly and we had a talk with the management team. The worst thing you can do is go moping around the place. Dragging your heals in training when you are a bit upset about something. The lads who were suspended were the lads driving the training sessions. It gelled us a bit together."

Is it a case of feeling victimised because of Dublin's profile? "We accept that and we are delighted with that. We always say it is 31 against one. That's the case a lot of the time. Obviously, playing for Dublin is unbelievable. That's what you have to expect. We're happy that other counties raise their game when they play Dublin. It becomes their All-Ireland final."

The next All-Ireland final arrives this Sunday in the maroon hue of Westmeath.

The draws for the All-Ireland football qualifiers and round three of the hurling qualifiers will be held live on TV3 next Sunday (6.0). The football draw involves 16 counties - Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Longford, Roscommon, Kildare, Tipperary, Meath, Louth, Limerick, Tyrone, Offaly, Laois, Derry, Westmeath or Dublin and Down or Armagh.

The first team drawn will have home venue provided their ground meets safety requirements. The games are scheduled for July 19th.

The hurling draw will involve the beaten semi-finalists in Munster and Leinster - Cork, Limerick, Dublin and Offaly - who will be drawn against each other on a provincial basis. A separate draw will decide home venue. The games are scheduled for July 12th.