Former Tailteann Cup player of the year and Westmeath star Ronan O'Toole has decided to step away from the Westmeath panel for the upcoming season.
According to reports from Paul Dollery of The Sun, the forward's travel plans for the year have driven the crushing decision.
The loss of O'Toole is just the latest in a long list of departures that have hit new Westmeath boss Dermot McCabe since he took over at the end of last year.
O'Toole who is now 27 was named as the inaugural Tailteann Cup Player of the Year after his starring role in Westmeath's second-tier glory which ended with a win over Cavan in Croke Park in 2022.
He followed up that good form the following season when he was nominated for an All-Star in 2023, becoming only the twelfth-ever player from the county to be nominated for the accolade. O'Toole has also been a stalwart for his local club St. Loman's appearing in ten consecutive county finals and brining County glory to his parish last October when he helped the club to finals victory over The Downs.
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30 March 2024; Ronan O'Toole of Westmeath in action against Liam Kerr of Down during the Allianz Football League Division 3 final match between Down and Westmeath at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile
Dermot McCabe dealt crushing blow in loss of Ronan O'Toole
However, his decision to opt out of Westmeath's intercounty set up for the season ahead has left Dermot McCabe with a growing lack of experience in his squad, having already lost five other key members that started the county's final game of the season against Derry last season.
McCabe already suffered the loss of last season's captain Kevin Maguire as well as county legends John Heslin and James Dolan, all of whom retired after last summer's loss to Derry.
Not dissimilar to O'Toole who's travel plans have driven his decision to opt out, both David Lynch and Andy McCormack have emigrated making them unavailable to the Westmeath boss also.
Westmeath will kick off their 2025 Division Two campaign this Sunday when they welcome Louth to Mullingar, in a game that will see many of O'Toole's club teammates come up against the St. Mary's stars that knocked them out of the Leinster Club championships last year.
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