Westmeath bid to turn tables on Kerry in Ring Cup

WESTMEATH hurling faces a game of huge significance this weekend, as Kevin Martin's troops prepare to do battle with Kerry in this year's Christy Ring Cup final at Croke Park (Saturday, 4pm). Preceded by the Lory Meagher final (12pm, Longford and Donegal) and the Nicky Rackard Cup final (2pm, Armagh v London), the Christy Ring Cup offers a coveted place in next year's Liam McCarthy Cup, a reward Kevin Martin is hugely determined to achieve. Speaking ahead of the game, former Offaly star Martin said: "Everyone wants to be playing top flight hurling and our lads are no different in that respect. It's probably the best chance these lads are going to get to force their way into the Liam McCarthy Cup, so there's no excuses this weekend, we have to go out and do the business." Westmeath have injury doubts over Darren McCormack, Blaine Lahart, Adam Price and Greg Gavin, but Martin is hopeful all four players will be available to play on Saturday. Martin is also happy with the fitness of Paddy Dowdall, who is available for selection, and a player Martin describes as "starting to motor again". The Westmeath manager is looking for his team to improve on their semi-final performance against Kildare, but also highlights the positives from that game. "Any day you score 2-7 to no-score after 19 minutes of play, well, you must be doing something right!," he said. "There were a few bits we were concerned about, the concession of 18 points for a start, but I think the training has been very good since, and the levels of fitness are on the rise. There's been a vast improvement in the panel and I'm confident enough in them to suggest that our league campaign would have been wildly different had we had this panel back then. The lads are tougher mentally now, as well, and I think they're coming right at a good time," added the Tullamore man. Despite clearly having plenty of confidence in his players ability to win this weekend, Martin is not underestimating Kerry, who already defeated Westmeath in an earlier round of this year's Christy Ring competition. "They beat us a while ago but it's a totally different situation we find ourselves in now," a defiant Martin said. "However, I wouldn't ever suggest that we'll underestimate Kerry. They're going to be really up for this game, as it's their first time back at Croke Park in such a long time, and the attraction of getting into the Liam McCarthy Cup is a huge motivator, as well," he added. Martin pinpointed corner-forward Shane Nolan as Kerry's main threat, but has doubts about the Kingdom's defence."I'd regard Nolan as their biggest player, but Gary O'Brien is a huge lump of a man in attack, and if they get some good ball into him, he can do damage. They actually have a very good forward line but I think there's a fair few weaknesses in defence. I think their midfield is mediocre, but we'll certainly have to be right up for this game. They can cause us a lot of bother if we're not at the races," Martin said. Meyler in positive mood Meanwhile, Kerry hurling manager John Meyler hopes the county's tradition of football success in Croke Park can inspire his side in Saturday's final. "I keep saying there to the lads that we can learn a lot from the Kerry footballers going up there. The ability they have when they get to Croke Park to be able to hit the ground running and winning in Croke Park, that's what it's all about. "That has rubbed off on us, like take the fundraising night at the dogs last Friday night. Okay it's a bit of fun, but it gives the hurlers the chance to meet the footballers ... you've got [Paul] Galvin there and you've got Shane [Brick], two immense figures in football and hurling in Kerry. It can only do us good," he says. Meyler's charges beat Westmeath by six points in Tralee, but that was then, this is now. "Everyone has room to improve," Meyler observes. I'm only concerned with what goes on the field. I can't improve or disimprove the other team, that's up to them. I'm expecting a ferocious battle next weekend, but we'll be ready for it," he added.