Dermot McCabe set to be next Westmeath manager

Former Cavan All-Star Dermot McCabe is set to be the next Westmeath manager, pending club ratification, RTÉ Sport understands.

McCabe's name will go before a meeting on Tuesday and he is set to replace Dessie Dolan, who stepped down in August after two seasons in the role.

McCabe, along with Fintan Reilly, has spent the last number of seasons in charge of Cavan club Gowna, who claimed back-to-back titles in 2022 and '23 under his watch before their exit to Ramor United at the semi-final stage earlier this month.

Prior to that, he had acted as a selector for Cavan under manager Mickey Graham when they won the Anglo Celt in 2020, their first Ulster success since 1997 when McCabe was their key man.

McCabe has strong links to Westmeath with his nephew Eoghan part of Dolan’s panel last season while brother Martin managed the Westmeath minors previously. He also enjoyed immense success with Garrycastle and more recently with Tubberclair, with Dermot helping out their preparations for the 2022 intermediate final, lost to Shandonagh following a replay.

Westmeath will operate in Division 2 in 2025 after claiming the Division 3 crown against Down. For the second year in succession, they finished bottom of their All-Ireland round-robin group despite being extremely competitive, with All-Ireland champions Armagh, finalists Galway and Derry all needing strong finishes to see them off.

Saturday's Leinster draw pitted them against Kildare in next season's provincial quarter-final.

McCabe’s expected ratification would leave just the Oakleafers and Clare in search of new managers for the 2025 season.

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