Some 4,000 expected as Kerry visit Cusack Park

THE full attention of local sport fans will be firmly focused on Cusack Park, Mullingar, and on Dr Hyde Park, Roscommon, this coming weekend, when footballing giants Kerry and Tyrone arrive in the Midlands. Pat Flanagan's Lake County side will be massive underdogs as they prepare to take on the 36-times All-Ireland SFC winners, Kerry, for the first time in a senior championship match. Household names such as Colm 'Gooch' Cooper and Kieran Donaghy are set to grace the Cusack Park venue (throw in 3pm) for the first time ever. The undoubted kingpins of Gaelic football, Kerry have struggled somewhat to win over their critics this year, particularly after losing the recent Munster SFC final to great rivals Cork. However, any Kerry team, especially one on the receiving end of criticism (some of which appears unfair), are extremely dangerous opponents, and no doubt local Gaels will be keenly anticipating the rare opportunity to see some of the finest exponents of the game up close and personal this weekend. An attendance in the region of 4,000 spectators is expected at Westmeath GAA headquarters on Sunday, while Westmeath County Board has this week announced that all patrons under the age of 16 will enter Cusack Park for free. Apart from a staggering haul of All-Ireland titles, Kerry have also lifted a whopping total of 74 Munster SFC titles since 1892. The most recent and perhaps most significant link between the two counties was Paidi O'Se's unforgettable involvement with Westmeath, when the eight-time All-Ireland winner with Kerry (as a player) managed the Lake County to a first ever Leinster SFC title. Paidi also managed Kerry to a pair of All-Ireland titles in 1997 and 2000, and is held in the highest esteem in both counties. Westmeath have not been without their critics either this year, losing to Louth in the Leinster SFC preliminary round (2-9 to 0-14), before exacting revenge on the Wee County in the first round of All-Ireland Qualifiers at Cusack Park. Westmeath will no doubt have their work cut out this weekend, and will be hoping a large crowd turns out to support their quest to topple the renowned Kingdom, but with some of land's grandest footballers set to appear for Kerry, it's an uphill task, to say the very least. Meanwhile, in Dr Hyde Park, Roscommon will be hoping to continue their successes over Ulster counties when they follow up their defeat of Armagh with another home clash with Tyrone. The game (throw in Saturday 2pm) has again caught the imagination of all Rossie football followers, and will be followed the next day, again in Roscommon GAA headquarters, by the Connacht minor final against Mayo.