Gilroy brings back Brogan and Brennan for the Dubs

Dublin fans have been wondering will he or won’t he play for weeks, but talisman Alan Brogan has been named in the starting XV to face Mayo on Sunday.

Last season’s Footballer of the Year suffered a groin injury in the Leinster Final win over Meath and subsequently missed out on the stuttering victory over Laois in the All-Ireland quarter-final.

Without Brogan pulling the strings, the Dubs have looked shapeless in attack and younger brother Bernard seems to have been particularly affected, having had a bad off day last time out.

Alan has been named to start in the corner alongside Bernard and Diarmuid Connolly, but he can be expected to drift out to the ’40 where there will likely be a gap left by Michael Dara Macauley filtering back into midfield. Eoghan O'Gara is dropped to the bench but it would be a shock if he wasn't called on at some point.

At the back, Ger Brennan returns in place of Philly McMahon and will start at centre back, with Cian O’Sullivan dropping back to the full-back line and Kevin Nolan moving to the wing from number six despite a few impressive performances at the heart of the defence.

We can expect the Mayo team to be named at some stage today, but the countdown to the second semi-final, a repeat of the epic encounter between the sides in 2006, has already begun in earnest.

Throw in at headquarters is on Sunday is 3.30m.

Dublin team to play Mayo: Stephen Cluxton; Michael Fitzsimons, Rory O'Carroll, Cian O'Sullivan; James McCarthy, Ger Brennan, Kevin Nolan; Eamon Fennell, Denis Bastick; Paul Flynn, Michael Darragh Macauley, Bryan Cullen; Alan Brogan, Diarmuid Connolly, Bernard Brogan.