Dolan primed to deliver

Gavin Cummiskey talks to Westmeath's Dessie Dolan who yesterdaycollected his All Star footballer of the month award for June ahead of Sunday's clash with Laois

A unique Leinster football final pairing are getting ready to square off this week. Westmeath versus Laois.

Travelling around the two counties the hype is already beginning to swell, both teams held their press nights last Thursday to avoid any undue attention this week.

However, Westmeath's Dessie Dolan got caught in the media crossfire yesterday when he came to Dublin to collect the Vodafone All Star footballer of the month award for June.

With the biggest game of his senior career coming this Sunday, not surprisingly, he was the main attraction, allowing Waterford hurling captain Ken McGrath to collect his prize in relative peace.

GAA president Seán Kelly did manage to steal some of the limelight as he took questions about the controversies that spilled over from the weekend (referees and traffic congestion will always be simmering topics in this country) but the main focus henceforth is Westmeath's potential date with destiny.

They will attempt to pry the Leinster title from the ever-strengthening grip of Laois, their old sparring partners at underage level. Familiar foes they may be, but Laois have grown immensely under their Kerry tutor, Mick O'Dwyer.

Back in the 1990s, Westmeath tasted All-Ireland success at minor and under-21 level. They ruled supreme and Dolan was the crown prince. Now fully matured, he will be charged with unlocking the Laois defence on Sunday.

"We know the lads well, we haven't played them in a while, but I would say that since Micko came in they've kind of improved more than we have. It will be tough," said Dolan.

It's been a curious year for Westmeath thus far. They stuttered through the National League campaign but mutterings about the value of the Páidí Ó Sé experiment were silenced by victory over Mayo in the final match.

"We were standing on the pitch and we found out we stayed up, which was a good feeling and it kind of gave us a lift, as well, going into the championship. And then we just got lucky."

Westmeath football was due a bit of fortune. After that everything clicked into gear as Ó Sé's love affair with Croke Park continued. However, Dolan was the main man in the victories over Offaly, Dublin and Wexford.

Although considered one of the top marksmen in the country for a couple of years now, Dolan has brought his game to another level this year. Like many of his team-mates, he is reaching the potential that first reared its head during their qualifier run in 2001.

Also, they have added resolve to their make-up. The solitary Westmeath All-Star, Rory O'Connell, is missing this run because of suspension (although a High Court judge will mull over that particular issue in the coming days) but Dessie's brother Gary has seamlessly filled the midfield void.

"We knew we were a good team, we knew we had good players," explained Dolan. "It takes a while to make that breakthrough. It's hard to compete against lads who have been around a while. You know, experienced teams like Meath and Dublin who had built up a lot of belief as well.

"You are kind of wondering if we are ever going to make the breakthrough but hopefully it is not a once-off thing. Hopefully we can back it up next year."

Why this year though? What did Páidí bring that Luke Dempsey lacked, or was it a passing-of-the-baton scenario.

"It's gone very professional to be honest. Conditioning, weight training. All this sort of thing. I'll always say Luke Dempsey did a terrific job with us and he got us where we are today. I just think that maybe it's gone up another notch.

"Not that there is much of a difference - it was all there before - just a bit more professional and a bit more organised and that's made a bit of a difference."

Also, the players are coming closer to the zenith of their powers. For now at least, the balance of power in Leinster has shifted.

"Well, it just shows you the way it's gone," continued Dolan. "People were saying last year that Laois were a once-off, but they will be strong favourites on Sunday. The Meath game kind a showed that they have got experience now as well, they seem to have been around for a while. We'll have our work cut out."