By Cian O'Connell

Dessie Dolan was ratified as the new Westmeath senior football team manager on Wednesday evening.

The Garrycastle clubman replaces Jack Cooney, who stepped down from the role last month.

Westmeath claimed the Tailteann Cup earlier this year in impressive fashion with Dolan part of Cooney's backroom team.

Dolan, who played for Westmeath between 1999 and 2014, was a key figure in the midlanders' 2004 Leinster SFC triumph.