ronan fagan
Westmeath GAA have confirmed the return of Dessie Dolan as senior football team manager for a second season.
Dolan’s managerial role was ratified at a recent county board meeting following which Westmeath GAA issued a curt statement to confirm his reappointment, a backroom team to be confirmed in due course.
Prior to his appointment as Westmeath senior football manager, Dolan was a selector to Jack Cooney when the Lake County won the inaugural Tailteann Cup competition in 2022.
The experience gained in this role allowed Dolan to fill the void following Cooney’s departure, the Garrycastle clubman hoping to build upon the momentum gained during Westmeath’s championship campaign.
Despite failing to achieve promotion to from Division 3 of the Allianz National Football League, Westmeath rallied in the senior football championship and almost progressed too the knockout phase of the competition despite being placed in a group with Armagh, Galway and Tyrone.
Dolan’s initial focus will most certainly the Lake County’s league campaign in early 2024 where promotion will be a requisite. Such an achievement will also allow for the building of confidence and momentum as the Leinster senior football championship then approaches.
Leinster Senior Football Championship Draw
Meanwhile, the draw for the Leinster senior football championship 2024 took place on Saturday afternoon, Westmeath hoping to advance from an opening round fixture with Wicklow.
Should Dolan’s charges emerge victorious from their contest with the Garden County, they will play Kildare in a quarter final fixture, a repeat pairing with Louth (who knocked the Lake County out of this year’s provincial championship ) a possibility at the semi-final stage.
The Leinster GAA Council will confirm the dates and venues for Westmeath’s opening round fixture in due course.
