Westmeath star Dolan leaves inter-county scene

Dessie Dolan has announced his retirement from inter-county football at the age of 34.

The 2004 Leinster title winner and All-Star revealed on RTÉ Radio yesterday that he felt the time was right to bow out. Saturday’s qualifier defeat to Cavan in Kingspan Breffni Park, in which he scored two points, was the forward’s last game for the county.

A member of the Westmeath panel since 1999, Garrycastle man Dolan had returned to the panel this year having taken a break last season. Dolan was exceptional in his club’s run to an All-Ireland final in 2012, losing out to Crossmaglen in a replay.