Bernard pays tribute to Team Dublin

Dublin's high-scoring forward, Bernard Brogan, has paid tribute to Team Dublin for helping the St Oliver Plunkett's/Eoghan Ruadh star get shortlisted for the Opel GAA/GPA Footballer of the Year.

Bernard is nominated alongside defenders Jack McCaffrey and Philly McMahon after he scored a phenomenal 6-21 - all bar one point from open play.

“The way the Dublin team play has helped me. There’s very unselfish play. I got a couple of goals that we call ‘TGs’ – Team Goals – just palmed them in or whatever because I was the furthest man forward.

“That shows the team working as a whole. I’m the furthest forward so I’m on the end of them sometimes and they add to your scoring tally but it’s a combination of being fit and healthy and playing in a great team.

“I’m up against Philly and Jack. Two fellas who were unreal this year.

“Jack has just brought a new level of pace to the whole thing. A new level of energy to the game. He’s amazing to watch and so important for us.

“Philly shows how to do a job. Two of the top men in the county, Aidan O’Shea and ‘The Gooch’, didn’t get much off him and he got his couple of scores as well.

“The two lads were unreal. I got a couple of scores but a lot of them were on the end of team moves.

“It’s a massive honour to be nominated. It’s good to be involved.”

Meanwhile, on Sunday week, October 18, over 350 guests will pack out the Hilton Hotel in Charlemont Place for the Jonathan Ranson Trust Fashion Show where Footballer of he Year nominee Jack McCaffrey will be among those walking the catwalk for a very worthy cause close to his heart.

“Jonathan’s a good friend of mine,” he explains. “We grew up a stone’s throw from each other and his birthday is just five days after mine.

“We were in a good, close group of friends growing up; we went to school together, played Gaelic together and did everything together. In 2014 he was over in San Diego on a J1, and he broke his spine and has been paralysed since.

“I didn’t need to be asked twice to get involved as he’s a good, loyal friend who would do anything for any of us - so this is the least we could do.”

Click on www.teamjonathanranson.com, to read about Jonathan’s story.