Dolan calls for retention of GAA player grants

WESTMEATH star forward Dessie Dolan has admitted to been taken aback by the speed at which his career has flown past. Speaking ahead of next month"s opening Leinster SFC encounter against either Longford or Wicklow, Dolan, 29, said it"s amazing how quickly a player becomes a so-called "experienced" member of the panel. 'It"s amazing,' said the Garrycastle clubman. 'You go from under-21 and you don"t care, you"ve no worries, you lose a game and you get over it. All of a sudden you"re 25 and people say you"re an experienced player. Within two years then you"re the old player because everyone is after leaving and people are looking towards you to be the rock of sense. It just goes fast.' The 2004 Leinster SFC winner was speaking at the official launch of the HSE Community Games finals in Athlone IT last week. Dolan has been the main lynchpin of the Westmeath attack in the recent past and will once again be looked upon as the team"s talisman for the coming championship campaign. Westmeath"s opening fixture of this year"s championship is against either Longford or Wicklow on Sunday, June 14, a match which will be screened live by RTÉ. Meanwhile, Westmeath ace Dolan has also insisted it would be 'harsh' if the government cut players" grants this year. The former All-Star was speaking in response to recent comments made by the Minister for Sport Martin Cullen about the lack of money to fund the scheme. 'Everybody has to take their hit,' said Dolan, who recently returned to competitive action with Garrycastle after missing several of Westmeath"s recent league matches. 'I"m a teacher and I"m taking a hit and I don"t mind that. I know in Westmeath there"s five or six lads out of work and it"s not because they"re not intelligent guys, there just isn"t work in their area. I look at golfers, I look at rugby players, the people in horse racing; they"re all getting their slice of cake, so where are the GAA players in all this? Really and truly, when it comes down to it, one of the most Irish things is GAA. It might be a bit harsh just to cut it completely.' Dolan said the grants are of major assistance to some players. 'It"s just a small way of saying "thanks". It was great last year to get it at Christmas and just go out and buy a few presents.'