Championship memories of Páidí keep Dolan fired-up

Their Leinster championship opener against Carlow may be only a matter of hours away but Westmeath veteran Dessie Dolan was in nostalgic mood earlier this week as RTÉ launched its 2013 championship coverage.

First, there was his senior championship debut, coincidentally against the same opposition on an infamous afternoon in 1999.

“Seven lads got sent off — it was amazing. There was a new yellow-card rule implemented before that championship and the referee took it as if a foul was a yellow and then he ended up sending off seven lads. We had played U21 Championship that May, won the All-Ireland (Westmeath’s first and only); I came on as a sub that day and imagine making your debut and seven lads get sent off. It was crazy.”