Dolan: Salthill clash is Westmeath's biggest test yet
After a fairytale run through Leinster, Westmeath face their biggest test of the season in Salthill this weekend, according to former All-Star Dessie Dolan.
Their third extra-time victory in a row over Cavan in Round 1 of the All-Ireland series plonked them into the winners path otherwise known as Round 2A, where they were rewarded with an away trip to Galway.
Westmeath have happy memories of their only trip to Salthill in championship 20 years ago.
They beat Galway by a point in a last-12 encounter in Pearse Stadium, Dolan himself kicking 0-03, while his brother Gary scored the only goal as they won 1-08 to 0-10 to advance to the quarter-finals.
Former Footballer of the Year Jarlath Fallon's emergence from retirement was a singularly unhappy one, ending after 11 minutes with a game-ending shoulder injury. The Galway 1998-01 crop were fast on the slide at the time and were heading into a nearly decade long trough.
Unusually, Pearse Stadium has sold out for the game, an unusual occurrence in the 26,000 capacity ground and which is largely been attributed to the visitors.
"Westmeath are box office," said Dolan on this week's RTÉ GAA podcast.
"We're filling up stadiums. The mood is good. We've won five in a row. The first time in our history that we've won five in a row.
"The lads are playing with great confidence, great energy. They're very organised and very unpredictable.
"It's hard to figure out where all their threats are coming from. You've Ronan Wallace, Matty Whittaker, Sam McCartan and Ray Connellan all playing really well. But the supporting cast of Brandon Kelly and Brendan O'Sullivan are adding so much."
While Dolan hails the confidence and swagger with which Westmeath are playing, he stresses that the opposition are at a higher level than they've faced thus far in the championship.
Dolan has plenty of experience in the maroon derby, having managed Westmeath in the 2023 and 2024 campaigns, in both of which they faced Galway in the All-Ireland SFC group phase.
Padraic Joyce's side won both games in Mullingar, albeit after a struggle, with a late intercept goal from Shane Walsh required to settle the 2024 encounter as Galway continued their march to that year's All-Ireland final.
"Galway are a serious outfit with a lot of experience.
"The likes of Shane Walsh, [Paul] Conroy, [Damien] Comer. These are all household names. Very, very established.
"Losing the Connacht final will focus their minds that they want to go and achieve the Sam Maguire.
"Losing the All-Ireland final to Armagh [in 2024] was one that hurt Padraic Joyce and hurt Galway. Because they're a team that possibly deserve an All-Ireland with the quality of players they have.
"So this is a real test for Westmeath."
"They've taken a lot of hits. A lot of injuries built up. A lot of knocks and niggles. I'd say the medical team are just patching lads up to get through games.
"It is a concern that it all might come to a head. But at the same time, you just don't know..."
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