Dessie Dolan: 'It's too good an opportunity to pass'

Dessie Dolan has admitted when Westmeath came calling, he simply couldn't turn it down as he prepares to take his first steps into inter-county football management.

Dolan, 43, was still playing with his club Garrycastle up until last year but he had been serving as a selector under John Cooney, who has departed to take up the role of National Player Development Lead in Croke Park.

Cooney led the Lakemen to the inaugural Tailteann Cup back in July.

Speaking to the RTÉ GAA Podcast about his appointment, Dolan said his deep love for the inter-county environment made it an easy decision.

"Getting involved [as a sector] last year with Jack Cooney, I got on very well with the lads.

"I hadn't played inter-county since maybe 2014 and getting back involved with Westmeath, I probably realised the enjoyment and satisfaction I was getting from being involved with a team in an inter-county environment, and getting stuck into it.

"Having the good year we had with Jack and working with Jack, who was a mentor, was very enjoyable. I was as surprised as anyone when we got the news that Jack had to leave the job.

"The opportunity presented itself, the players were probably keen to have a bit of continuity, so I just stepped up to the role as a result of that. I'm kind of confident in so far as I have a lot of good people around me in Westmeath. I'm best mates with John Keane [who also served as a selector under Cooney] for a very long time and he has great coaching experience.

"The S and C guys are amazing, and the whole back-room team. That's really the reason I'm doing it... the continuity is a big factor. There's a couple of players who are maybe 30, 31, 32 - (we want to) give the another opportunity to push on and see what we can achieve with