Dessie Dolan retires

Hammer Archer

I know this has been mentioned in the Westmeath thread, but I think he deserves more recognition with his own thread.

34 year old Dessie Dolan, probably the greatest player to ever come out of Westmeath, has retired from the intercounty scene.
Now I know both myself and fellow Meath fans will still have a giggle at that miss in Croke Park back in 2003, but I would assume we would all agree at the same time that he was an absolutely outstanding player that would have gotten onto any team in Ireland at his peak.

He was instrumental in Westmeath winning the 1999 U21 All Ireland football title and captained the same team to a second Leinster title in a row in 2000. With the seniors, he was within minutes of making it to an All Ireland semi-final in 2001 but probably his greatest moment was winning Westmeath's first Leinster SFC in 2004 by beating reigning champions Laois in the final which also earned him his only All Star award. On the club scene, he also has won 6 Westmeath SFCs with Garrycastle along with a Leinster Club SFC in 2011.

Always strikes me as a very humble and likeable guy on and off the pitch and he deserved all the plaudits he has gotten throughout his career.

Tom Joad

Fantastic servant for Westmeath and a really nice guy off the field too.

Had the pleasure and privilege of seeing his last game for Westmeath and he was a class act to the end.

iDave

Hammer Archer wrote: »

Now I know both myself and fellow Meath fans will still have a giggle at that miss in Croke Park back in 2003

That is certainly true

Stevecw

Top quality forward, and did a great job for many years for Westmeath. Unlike a lot of lads from weaker teams he at least got to win a provincial medal, that 2004 win for Westmeath being their 1st ever makes it even better.

Class act, and at his peak for sure would have got on any co side. Still playing well at the weekend there, and a pity his last year with Westmeath is a year where they lost every game they played.

Can see him being more involved on Sunday Game & on other tv panels as he talks sense.

paul71

I have heard it said of many players from weaker counties that they would make it into any team. Dessie is one of the very few where it is true, he would have graced the forward line of any team that has won an All-Ireland in the last 25 years, indeed there are only a handful of forwards in that era who were his equal.

Dirty Dingus McGee

Great player.Glad that he won a Leinster at both club and County level and his career didn't go unrewarded like so many other greats from so called weaker counties. Westmeath had a terrific collection of players in that era and looking back they probably underachieved a little.

kc66

Hammer Archer wrote: »

Always strikes me as a very humble and likeable guy on and off the pitch and he deserved all the plaudits he has gotten throughout his career.

I lived with him in college for a year and he is a nice guy. Very unassuming. He was a great footballer and I almost felt sorry for him when he kicked that free to the right.

Prop Joe

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

Great player.Glad that he won a Leinster at both club and County level and his career didn't go unrewarded like so many other greats from so called weaker counties.

Always thought he was a good not great player until i saw him play at centre forward for Garrycastle..By god what a class act

davegrohl48

kc66 wrote: »

I lived with him in college for a year and he is a nice guy. Very unassuming. He was a great footballer and I almost felt sorry for him when he kicked that free to the right.

I remember his first night at freshers training. Was jaw droppingly good.

davegrohl48

kc66 wrote: »

I lived with him in college for a year and he is a nice guy. Very unassuming. He was a great footballer and I almost felt sorry for him when he kicked that free to the right.

I remember his first night at freshers training. Was jaw droppingly good.