Kerry pressure lifted ahead of Lakes visit

The Joe McDonagh Cup is fast becoming a wide-open competition, with each participant having the ability to beat the others amid a surprise result in each round.

Kerry’s 10-point defeat of Laois last week falls into that category, but unbeaten Westmeath will pose another major challenge for the Kingdom, who are playing with a new-found confidence under manager Fintan O’Connor.

O’Connor’s side shot 3-20 against Laois, along with 17 wides, but, with Michael Ryan’s Westmeath averaging 3-23 per game, the Kerry boss is braced for an onslaught in Tralee on Sunday.