A look at three possible contenders as Westmeath begin manager search

The news on Friday last that Dessie Dolan was stepping down as Westmeath senior football manager did not come as a massive shock to me personally. He had not committed to the role since Westmeath finished in the championship, and there was speculation on the grapevine that he would not be taking the reins.

Dolan owes Westmeath nothing and will be remembered as the county’s best-ever footballer. Who knows, in years to come, he may well return to manage the Lake County again if he stays involved in management. Someone of his calibre and experience surely cannot be lost to the game at this stage, and it will be a surprise if he steps away forever, even though the commitment levels involved are considerable and perhaps totally unfair.

He was manager for two years and spent a year as a selector with Jack Cooney when Westmeath won the Tailteann Cup, so his loss is unquestionably a blow to the county.

Westmeath GAA now has a big decision to make as the senior footballers face into a Division 2 campaign next year, which will determine much about how the season pans out. A good run in the league and consolidation will set them up nicely for another tilt at the Sam Maguire Cup,.

Of course, it won’t be easy – the days of soft championship draws are over. Westmeath have shown in the past two years that they can compete with some of the top sides in the country, and they will be keen to keep that going.

A big factor in all of this is just how many of the current side are staying on. The team is facing a period of transition, with James Dolan, one of the most prominent players of the past decade, having confirmed that he is retiring.

John Heslin, the county’s leading forward, may follow. He has made no decision on his inter-county future yet and said he will await the outcome of St Loman’s run in this year’s Westmeath senior football race before making a final decision.

There are other vastly experienced players like Kevin Maguire, Jamie Gonoud, and Kieran Martin, who may or may not continue next year. The challenge of replacing such quality players will be considerable, and maybe that was a factor in Dolan’s decision – who knows?

Gerry Buckley, freelance journalist and analyst, feels the county is still an attractive proposition for inter-county managers – including those looking to step up the ladder. However, the new manager may have to deal with a difficult period as some senior players contemplate their future.

“It’s a big commitment for a man with a young family, and I have to acknowledge the great work Dessie has done during his time as manager. He was possibly the best player ever to wear the maroon and white jersey,” he said.

“The Leinster championship defeats were disappointing: we blew a big lead against Louth in 2023 and lost to Wicklow very unexpectedly in this year’s Leinster championship. Remarkably, we managed to regroup and performed heroically in very difficult groups for two years.

“We had Galway and Armagh both years – and they contested the All-Ireland final. In the first year, we had Tyrone, and this year we had Derry in the group stages. They are all big names, and we performed very well.

“We got out of Division 3 this year and beat Down in Croke Park, so if you look at Dessie Dolan’s CV as a whole, it has to be deemed a success.

“Maybe another five players, many of whom are generational talents, I’m not sure whether they are going to retire, but the legs aren’t what they used to be. There is no shame in that. It is going to be a difficult period for whoever steps in.

“The good news is that we are in Division 2, and that has to make it an attractive job. If you manage to stay in the top six, you’re pretty much certain of playing in the Sam Maguire again,” Gerry continued.

With Westmeath club delegates set to meet tonight (Wednesday) in order to begin the process of appointing Dolan's successor, here is a look at some of the candidates who could feature on the shortlist to become the next Westmeath senior football manager.

John Keane: The 2004 and 2008 All-Star defender is the standout candidate within the county and would surely be an obvious choice to step up and replace Dessie Dolan, with whom he has worked so well for the past two years.

Keane was also part of the Jack Cooney management team that led the county to the Tailteann Cup in 2022, and he has managed the U20/21 footballers in the past. This is the obvious next step on the ladder if he wishes to take on the challenge.

Lar Wall: The Laois man managed The Downs in 2022 when they got over the line and won the club’s first Westmeath senior football title in 17 years. Wall also has experience on the club scene in Meath, having managed Gaeil Colmcille to the 2020 Meath senior football final.

He was part of the Roscommon backroom team this year under Kildare’s Davy Burke and will have gained experience. He has recent knowledge of the Westmeath football scene, but he hasn’t managed at inter-county level, and that is the obvious reservation, while his second season with The Downs was disappointing.

Andy Moran: The former Mayo football star managed Leitrim for three years and won promotion to Division 3 of the National Football League this year. He had a very positive first season, but Leitrim bowed out of the Connacht championship when they lost to New York in 2023 (in a penalty shootout) and never kicked on in the Tailteann Cup.

His Leitrim term ended in July, and taking on Westmeath, a Division 2 side, would be the next obvious step for a young inter-county manager of his standing.