Brogan: the 2011 Footballer of the Year is still weighing up his options. Source: Donall Farmer/INPHO

On the return of Ciaran Kilkenny and Kevin O’Brien

[They] both are doing very well. Both are partaking fully in training in the limited amount of pitch work that we’re doing, so they’re moving back on track. We hope to see them some time before the end of the National League.[Saturday night] is a possibility. They’re certainly there. They’re available for selection now.

On Alan Brogan’s Dublin future

No [update]. We’ll be meeting later on that one.

On the proposal to introduce a clock/hooter

I think it’s a fantastic initiative. It would add more excitement to the game so it’s a little bit baffling why it hasn’t taken place. I don’t know the logistical issues but they seem pretty straightforward to me.

On the proposal to finish all competitions within the calendar year

I think it is the start of the process. Paraic Duffy has mentioned that he supports it, it’s great to see that’s coming from the leadership in the association. I think it is the first step in a long process.

On the proposal that kickouts must go at least 45m

We’ve got some great high fielders — Emmet O Conghaile, Shane Carthy, Michael Darragh, Cian O’Sullivan — so it’s a skill that we go after and we like to see it, but I don’t think we can change the rules to try to force a particular tactic.Say Cork were to play very much a handpassing game on Sunday, do you limit the number of handpasses that a team can have? We tried it before and it didn’t work. I think the rules are quite solid the way they are but I can understand where [Duffy] is coming from.

On the current state of Leinster football

We had some great games in the pre-season tournament. A great game against Laois, I think they’re on the up. Kildare were very unlucky to lose against Down and Meath are always strong.I think Leinster football is in a very healthy state. What has happened in the past is in the past and there’s no guarantees for Dublin or any county in the Leinster championship this year.

– First published 09.30