Keith Duggan talks to Des Dolan about his ambitions for Westmeath as they prepare to renew battle with neighbours Meath.

Reality is pressing on the great adventurers of the modern game. Westmeath, above all counties, transformed last year's tentative new qualifying format into the gripping and wonderful spectacle it became. Anything could happen and often did, especially when Westmeath played Meath.

Tomorrow, the two counties tango again but this year is less about rush and more about business. Luke Dempsey's young guns have had a sobering season since their eventual elimination by Meath following a third meeting in Croke Park.

Relegation in the National League and a flat championship start against Carlow a few weeks ago. Some would say the bubble has burst.

"Well, we were disappointed by the league," says Des Dolan. "In a sense, the new schedule didn't suit us, we essentially played seven weeks straight and were carrying injuries and trying out new lads. And it was a fresh experience for us.

"When I started, we were playing the likes of Kilkenny or London. This year, it was Galway and Tyrone. And that is fantastic, these are the teams you learn from. But we were annoyed that we didn't stay up."

Dolan is one of the emergent generation that has helped expand the scope of football ambition within the county. A thoroughly modern forward, light and ferociously quick and skilful, Dolan has emerged into one of the most feared attackers in the game. He made his senior debut in that Westmeath-Carlow red-card festival in 1999, just weeks before the All-Ireland under--21 final between his county and Westmeath.

Since then, Dolan's star has risen and at 22, he already has a tour of Australia with the Compromise Rules team under his belt. With Luke Dempsey graduating from a brilliant underage managerial career to inspire last year's glory run, it is a good period for any Westmeath player to be approaching his peak. But now, Westmeath are at "the difficult second album" stage. They have to consolidate their new-found fame and popularity.

"Certainly, when a team does well, people expect even more. But I think our supporters were very understanding throughout the league. This is an on-going process. Against Carlow, we didn't play as well as we would have wished and the hope is now that we have a lot more go offer against Meath.

"It is a game without much form - we were poor in the league and Meath were quiet. You'd almost forget that they were in the All-Ireland final last year. But that is the way they are and then they just emerge again."

Although Westmeath were prime benefactors in the inaugural qualifying system, they still want to measure themselves against the old order and have identified the Leinster championship as the best way forward.

"The back-door option is great for teams. But before we won the Division Two title last year, Westmeath had never won anything at senior level. So what we really would like to do is try to win a Leinster final and see if that could be a stepping stone to something else. Realistically, we all know how hard it is to win an All-Ireland but we at least hope that over the next few seasons we can put ourselves in a position to challenge."

In the heated aftermath of their impassioned derbies against Meath and the famous win over Mayo in Castlebar, many observers felt that time was the only obstacle between Westmeath and Nirvana. Their uncertain winter may have dampened that ardour. But this is the match that the county has been waiting 10 months to play.

"The build up is different this year. Both counties know more about one another. With Meath, you know they are going be tough and dogged, you know how dangerous they are. It's a great occasion, there will be a massive crowd there and days like this are one of the reasons you play football. Meath are one of teams that you want to assess yourself against."

By his own standards, Dolan was subdued against Carlow, which will make the Meath back-room team even more wary of him. The Meath defence, though, is not famed for encouraging shows of expressiveness from the countries heralded forwards. "They are very organised and a tough team to break down. That doesn't change. We are all just hopeful we can do well but Meath have all the old reliables back and they are just a very accomplished team."

Dolan will begin a post-graduate year in NUIG in September. He has spent the last four years in the city and like most people, loves it. Over the years, he has come to know many of the Galway footballers that have set the standards in recent years.

Ultimately, he believes Westmeath can aspire to those heights but that is long term. Croke Park is the immediate summit. Dolan allows that he will be rising early for Ireland's first World Cup game but after that, he will only have one thing on his mind.