Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Football final preview: Donegal's Clifford conundrum

All-Ireland winning former Kerry player and manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice, ex-Donegal star Kevin Cassidy and (mostly) neutral Westmeath man Dessie Dolan join Jacqui Hurley on the RTÉ GAA Podcast to preview Sunday's senior football final between The Kingdom and the Tir Chonaill men.

Football • 24 Jul

Louth's day in sun, Clare's title defence in tatters

Dessie Dolan and Shane McGrath join Jacqui Hurley and Rory O'Neill to look back on a bountiful provincial weekend for Donegal and Louth, while Clare's All-Ireland hurling defence is in tatters.

Football • 12 May

Meath resuscitate Leinster, Waterford come to life

Dessie Dolan and Shane McGrath join Jacqui Hurley and Rory O'Neill to reflect on one of the shocks of the decade, as Meath downed the Dubs, while Waterford caused a surprise in the Munster Hurling Championship.

Football • 28 Apr

Donegal looking sharp, Cork building momentum

Ciarán Whelan, Dessie Dolan and Shane McGrath join Rory O'Neill to look back on the opening weekend of the 2025 provincial football championships, as well as the Allianz Hurling League final.

Football • 07 Apr

Kerry lay down marker, Monaghan haven't gone away

Dessie Dolan joins Jacqui Hurley and Rory O'Neill on the RTÉ GAA Podcast to reflect on finals weekend in the Allianz Football League.

Football • 31 Mar

Fermanagh manager Kieran Donnelly will take charge of Ulster this weekend

Donnelly: Full-time managers could help players' load

Fermanagh football boss Kieran Donnelly believes there is "merit" in the idea of having inter-county managers in full-time roles in order to help deal with the increasing load on players and set-ups.

Football • 15 Oct 24

Dessie Dolan spent two years with his native county

Dolan brings time with Westmeath to an end

Dessie Dolan has stepped down as Westmeath senior football boss.

Football • 09 Aug 24

Dessie Dolan celebrates after Westmeath beat Down to seal the Division 3 title on Saturday night

'Too busy' - Dolan dubious of Gaelic football calendar

Westmeath manager Dessie Dolan questioned the GAA's fixtures scheduling after his side won the Allianz Football League Division 3 title, just eight days before they have to play a Leinster SFC quarter-final.

Football • 31 Mar 24

Dessie Dolan's side are back in action in the Division 3 final next Saturday

Westmeath achieve goal but Dolan wary of schedule

The effects of the GAA calendar and a defeat to Sligo put a taint on Westmeath's promotion to Division 2 as an out of contention Yeats County took the positive of extra time to prepare for their provincial championship opener.

Football • 25 Mar 24

Dessie Dolan is to continue with Westmeath

Dolan to stick with Westmeath for another season

Westmeath have confirmed that Dessie Dolan will remain in charge of the county's senior football side after agreeing another term with the county board.

Football • 19 Oct 23

GAA Podcast: Davy Burke and Dessie Dolan have their say

Davy Burke, Dessie Dolan and The Sunday Times' Michael Foley join Rory O'Neill to look at this weekend's All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals. Listen to the RTÉ GAA Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Football • 29 Jun 23

Dessie Dolan is optimistic as he takes the reins at Westmeath

Dessie Dolan: 'It's too good an opportunity to pass'

Dessie Dolan has admitted when Westmeath came calling, he simply couldn't turn it down as he prepares to take his first steps into inter-county football management.

Football • 22 Sep 22

RTÉ GAA Podcast: Dessie Dolan on managing Westmeath

New Westmeath senior football manager Dessie Dolan joins Mikey Stafford, Rory O'Neill and Niall McCoy to talk about his first management gig (not involving a team in his school).

Football • 22 Sep 22

Dessie Dolan (R) pictured with former Westmeath manager Jack Cooney after their side's victory in the Tailteann Cup final against Cavan

Dessie Dolan confirmed as new Westmeath football boss

Westmeath football legend Dessie Dolan will take over his native county for the 2023 season.

Football • 22 Sep 22

Can Tyrone retain their title or could Mayo finally finish the job?

2022 runners and riders: The top four teams assessed

With the curtain drawn on this year's All-Ireland SFC, Dessie Dolan and Ciarán Whelan assess the state of play in Dublin, Kerry, Mayo and Tyrone heading into 2022.

GAA • 17 Sep 21

Dublin are eyeing an 11th successive Leinster title

Dolan: Dublin to 'punish' Kildare in Leinster final

Dessie Dolan believes Dublin will answer their critics with a "punishing" win over Kildare in Sunday's Leinster SFC final.

GAA • 28 Jul 21

Mayo were 5-20 to 0-11 winners over Leitrim

Dolan: 'Division 3 and 4 players not being well served'

Dessie Dolan compares and contrasts the experience for a player in each of football's four divisions on the RTÉ GAA Podcast and discusses the fallout from Mayo's hammering of Leitrim.

GAA • 14 Jul 21

Dublin were photographed training last week
Picture credit: Irish Independent

Dolan says GAA have let themselves down with breaches

Dessie Dolan believes inter-county teams are training in contravention of Covid-19 restrictions as they fear falling behind and the GAA has a major problem with abiding by rules - from the top down.

GAA • 10 Apr 21

Dublin have won 14 of the last 15 Leinster Championships

GAA 'missed a trick' by keeping provincial format

Dessie Dolan and Kevin McStay believe there was a golden chance for the GAA to try something new this year rather than reverting to the old provincial knockout system for the All-Ireland Football Championship.

GAA • 19 Jun 20

Gary Dolan was on the Garrycastle sideline hours after his wife gave birth to their baby boy Jack

Leinster quest continues on joyous day for Dolan family

For Garrycastle manager Gary Dolan and his brother and key forward Dessie, victory over Ratoath in the Leinster SFC club quarter-final was very much the secondary story for the family on Sunday.

Football • 11 Nov 19

Dessie Dolan in action for Garrycastle back in 2011

Dessie Dolan beats dad's record and calls it a day

Dessie Dolan won his eighth Westmeath SFC title with Garrycastle on Sunday, one more than his father managed in what, he insisted after the final whistle, was his final act in county football.

GAA • 13 Oct 19

"They've tried to be expansive and it hasn't worked"

Dolan - 'Predictable' Tyrone lack natural forwards

Dessie Dolan believes Tyrone have become too predictable and lack "natural" forwards compared to other All-Ireland contenders.

GAA • 10 Aug 19

The Lake County's former All Star Dessie Dolan

'You got your good shirt and jeans out of the gear-bag'

The Westmeath man recalls the early years of the football qualifiers and warns that Galway are in a difficult spot.

GAA • 21 Jun 19

Roscommon football manager Anthony Cunningham

Cunningham taking dual carriageway to success

He captained Galway to All-Ireland titles at minor and Under-21, won two more medals as a senior and has enjoyed management success in hurling and football.

GAA • 15 Jun 19

Sean Cavanagh leads out Tyrone at Croke Park for one last time

Cavanagh is the best of his generation, says Dolan

RTÉ GAA analyst Dessie Dolan hailed Sean Cavanagh as the 'player of his generation' after the Tyrone ace announced his inter-county retirement on Sunday.

GAA • 28 Aug 17