Dessie Dolan has declined an invitation to hook up with the Westmeath footballers.

The 32-year-old Garrycastle attacker was conspicuous in his absence from the Lake County side that faced Meath in a challenge match at Boardsmill last night and is understood to have told manager Pat Flanagan that he's not ready to return.

As he's subsequently a non-runner for the Leinster SFC opener against Louth on May 20th, it now seems very likely that the talismanic 2004 All Star has played his last intercounty match.

Dolan showed during Garrycastle's run to the All-Ireland club final that he is still a class act so his absence from the county squad represents a major blow to Westmeath supporters.

Whether he returns at a later date remains to be seen - but the clock is ticking... Tweet

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