Dolan eyes historic victory as Garrycastle hunt Leinster title
The former All Star forward is just 60 minutes away from winning another historic Leinster football title with a Westmeath side. Back in 2004, he won his All Star award on the back of Westmeath’s maiden Leinster success when Páidí Ó Sé was in charge.
Five years on, he’s the marquee forward in Garrycastle’s lineup as they seek to beat Portlaoise and bring the AIB Leinster club title to Westmeath for the first time.
“I remember 2004 well, Páidí Ó Sé coming in as Westmeath manager with a lot of media attention and us not really knowing what to expect,” said Dolan.
“The league didn’t really float his boat, he’s a Championship man.
“As soon as the Championship came along, Páidí used to come out training in the shorts and there was a totally different atmosphere around the place.
“We got momentum going and had loads of talented players. In 1999, we’d won the All-Ireland U-21 so all those lads were progressing. The team was there and we felt we were ready. There was a fantastic buzz around the county.
“It was brilliant at the time and to win that Leinster title for a county that had never done it before was a huge thing.”
So what would it mean to do the very same with Garrycastle now? “It would be fantastic,” continued Dolan.
“It’s disappointing that over the last 35 years or whatever, no Westmeath team has done it.
“My father played in a Leinster club championship at one stage, Tyrrellspass and one or two others have tried to cross the line as well and couldn’t. So there’s a lot riding on this game.”
Garrycastle gave an exhibition of ball handling and passing in the second half of their semi-final against Dublin champions Ballyboden to progress.
Before that, they pulled through an extra-time epic with Longford’s Clonguish, so are well capable of grinding out victory.
“At this time of year you just don’t know what to expect,” claimed Dolan.
“It could be a lovely day or it could be spilling rain with gale force winds.
“All of these factors make it very hard to predict. What’s definite, according to Dolan, is that opponents Portlaoise are favourites to collect the title.
“You had the likes of Kilmacud Crokes, St Vincent’s, Navan O’Mahony’s and Rhode all being knocked out so after that it automatically came down to Portlaoise as favourites because they’ve been a strong team in Laois for a long time,” said Dolan.
Meanwhile, Dolan has yet to confirm if he’ll return to play for Westmeath in 2010. Dolan’s father, former Leitrim boss Dessie Snr, was controversially overlooked for the position that went to Brendan Hackett.
“With the club going well, I’ve just been concentrating on that,” said Dolan. “I haven’t decided anything yet at the minute.”
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