Anxious Westmeath fans queued for up to 12 hours yesterday to get tickets for Saturday's All-Ireland football quarter-final against Derry at Croke Park.
The county has been gripped by football fever since last month's first Leinster title win over Laois.
"I've been here since before 7 a.m. Tickets don't go on sale until 6 p.m., but I wanted to be absolutely sure I would get one," said Amy Mahon (15), who was at the top of the queue outside the GAA offices in Cusack Park, Mullingar.
"I used to live in Clondalkin in Dublin until three years ago, when I moved to Mullingar, and I am a Westmeath fan now."
Her friend Ciara Dune (15) is holidaying with Amy in Mullingar, and she was also in the hunt for a ticket. "I will be shouting for Dublin in the second game on Saturday against Kerry, I have been at a few games this year and I hope we can go all the way and win Sam," she said.
Westmeath football officials are hopeful the 10,000 ticket allocation will cover all their needs. Mr Joey Baker, Grangemore, Harney, Co Westmeath, was hoping for a victory in the big match: "I'm really looking forward to Saturday's game. The team has been brilliant all year, and I hope they can keep it up," he said.
In Athlone, the demand was not as brisk, but the woman at the head of the queue, Ms Geraldine Coughlan, was hoping to get family tickets for seven adults and eight children.