DUBLIN FOOTBALL:ALTHOUGH THEY fell short of reaching the final, Dublin's footballers had reasons to be pleased with a campaign that started with a win down in Kerry and culminated with a win in Omagh that relegated Tyrone.

Bookending the league with away victories against the counties that have won the previous seven All-Irelands, and both of whom have delivered cruel championship lessons to Dublin during those years, represents a satisfactory two months’ work for Pat Gilroy and his management team.

Whereas the stream of new footballers road-tested during the campaign – 32 different players in all – was a primary source of satisfaction to Gilroy, the return of Alan Brogan on Sunday and the form of his brother, Bernard, was an equally encouraging contribution from more established panel members.

Brogan’s status as the best finisher in Dublin football received a wider stage in last year’s championship, his first uninterrupted run, when his form in Leinster made him a front-runner for All Star recognition before he disappeared into the vortex with the rest of the team in the horrendous All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Kerry.

Having absorbed the disappointment his form this season has returned to the eye-popping. On Sunday he produced a sensational first half, shooting six points, five from play, and setting up two goals as Dublin hit 2-10 and no wides.

He attributed the strike rate to teamwork, the creation of space and a well-functioning supply line.

“Kevin McMenamon gave me four or five balls on the 21 and all I could do was turn and kick them over. There were a couple of good scores but the lads made it very easy, I was only kicking a lot of them from the 14-yard line, it’s not the hardest thing in the world.

“The lads worked very hard and there was a lot of space out there so I was just delighted to be the one kicking them over the bar.”

Asked about the team’s reputation for ultra-cautious football and deep defensive patterns he acknowledged they had set out to have more of a cut at offensive play.

“A lot of people had a point to prove today. Pat has never put any restriction on us, he likes us to work hard – that’s the main aim. The sun was shining so we went out to play a bit of ball. We had nothing to lose. They had to try and win to stay out of relegation. We just went out to express ourselves.”

“We have been working hard on drills in training to try and dispossess . . . Pat is trying to instill a work ethic in us and you could see that today – even the lads on the bench came on and showed good form so hopefully it will stand to us going forward.”