GARRY MEETS

GARRY DOYLE SPEAKS TO A LEAGUE OF IRELAND LEGEND

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FINGLAS was famous for its factories in the 1980s and 90s.

There were the baby food products produced by BSN, the paint manufactured by Humbrol, the dozens of furniture producers, the employment provided by Irish Ropes.

But the area's most famous export was footballers. Ronnie Whelan came from there, as did Frank Stapleton and Dave O'Leary, heroes of Euro 88 and in O'Leary's case, Italia 90.

Irish international Alan Moore followed. Then Mark Kinsella, Stephen Kelly. And that's before we get to the League of Ireland - Paul Whelan, Derek Swan, Ken DeMange, Declan and Stephen Geoghegan, Pete Mahon were all products of Finglas.

And in 1992 a young defender with slick-back hair stepped off the estates and into the League.

This was the spring Donal Broughan emerged. He appeared like a 28-year-old in an 18-year-old's body, possessing total confidence which could be seen on his home debut for Bohs against Shamrock Rovers when he nailed Derek Swan with a tackle that the pair still talk about today.

Within weeks, the kid with potential was a kid with a FAI Cup winners medal, as Bohs defeated Cork City 1-0 courtesy of Dave Tilson's winning goal.

So Cup weekends like this resonate with him still because these were the best days of his career - 1992 providing him with a perfect start to life as a pro.

Is this why he will be in Dalymount tonight for their third round game against Sligo Rovers?