Dolan relishing Garrycastle's territorial fight
Tuesday November 24 2009
FORMER All Star Dessie Dolan is primed for a battle of neighbours when Westmeath champions Garrycastle play the Leinster Senior Club Football final on Sunday week.
Dolan's club came through a tough semi-final encounter with Dublin's Ballyboden St Enda's (1-8 to 0-6) at Mullingar on Sunday, while the other semi-final between Clara and Portlaoise was abandoned due to torrential rain soon after half-time.
But Dolan isn't worried which side eventually comes through to face Garrycastle. He knows what to expect whether it's Clara or Portlaoise.
"I teach in Moate and I could kick the ball into Clara. I teach a lot of the young lads from Clara, and in fairness to the Clara young lads in our school, they have always been fabulous footballers. They're a decent senior team as well," Dolan said.
"So we are very familiar with Clara. As for Portlaoise, we've had plenty of history with Laois lads down the years. They're fabulous footballers and good lads, so I don't know which would be easier but we'll look forward to it either way."
form
Dolan is in good form and relishing his football with his club after an injury-interrupted season with the county, but finds himself in new territory. A Westmeath club has never won a Leinster title, and before Sunday last, no Westmeath club had beaten a Dublin team in Leinster in eight meetings.
The victory over Ballyboden St Enda's breaks one hoodoo, so what about the prospects of going a step further in the Leinster final?
Dolan is cautiously optimistic. "It's been a good year so far, but in a Leinster final, it's all on the day. Everything you've done before that will be out the window.
"Conditions are very tough at the minute. In these conditions it's all about keeping a cool head and getting the scores at crucial times.
"I think previously when we got into Leinster we probably weren't physically strong enough, but there's a lot of maturity in the team now.
"We have a good mix between the young lads and the old lads and we're just glad it worked out against Ballyboden," he said.
Dolan scored three points on Sunday. All were important in a low-scoring game but one was crucial.It came in the 40th minute with the score at 0-5 to 0-3 in Garrycastle's favour, and was superbly struck from a tight angle out on the touchline.
Dolan played down the skill level required, but he and everyone in the ground knew it was a key score.
"I just closed the eyes and kicked it. I'd no other option. All other avenues were exhausted at that point and I knew, I just had to have a go. Fortunately the wind caught it nicely and it just went inside the post."
- Liam Kelly
Irish Independent
