Chris Óg Jones blasted 3-04 as Cork kept their Division 2 promotion hopes alive with an entertaining one-point victory over Westmeath.
The Uibh Laoire full-forward netted in the 14th, 52nd, and 67th minutes, with the latter strike providing a four-point cushion.
Ronan Wallace palmed home to make it a nervy finish but Cork held possession until the hooter.
For the visitors, young wing-back Matthew Whittaker scored one goal and created two, while the McCartan brothers, Danny and Sam, combined for four two-pointers.
Still, the Division 3 champions' relegation concerns grow after their third consecutive defeat.
John Cleary welcomed captain Brian Hurley, Ian Maguire, and Ruairí Deane back onto the bench after injuries although Seán Powter was a late omission due to a hamstring strain. Tommy Walsh took his place.
Dermot McCabe made two changes to his named team with Brandon Kelly and Lorcan Dolan replacing Enda Gaffney and Stephen Smith.
Cork raised fewer flags than Westmeath in the first half but thanks to a trio of two-pointers, they led 1-10 to 1-09 at half-time.
Brian O’Driscoll landed an early double as they raced into a 0-04 to nil lead. It should have been more only for Paul Walsh to blaze a one-on-one goal chance wide.
Westmeath punished that miss in the ninth minute when netting one of their own. Wallace’s powerful surge opened up the defence and Brían Cooney laid off for a Whittaker shot that just evaded Patrick Doyle’s grasp.
Another major Cork chance came from a Mark Cronin long-range attempt which rebounded off the post but Seán McDonnell’s shot was deflected around the upright by Jamie Gonoud’s sliding block.
They got their goal in the 14th minute after Seán Walsh won an opposition kick-out with McDonnell squaring for Jones to slide in for the finish.
The hosts jumped into a six-point lead with back-to-back two-pointers from rookie McDonnell and Eoghan McSweeney for a 1-10 to 1-06 lead.
They wouldn’t score again for the remaining eight minutes of the half as Westmeath reeled off the final five points, including a Danny McCartan two-pointer.
Luke Loughlin has been the best two-point marksman in the League so far, scoring six (five from play) among his 0-22 total. Closely followed by Daniel O’Mahony, he instead turned creator for Robbie Forde and Lorcan Dolan points.
Westmeath had goal chances too. Brandon Kelly handpassed over the first opportunity. Then, a superb Doyle double save from Cooney and Whittaker kept Cork ahead by the minimum at the break.
Cork stretched three ahead with points from Jones and Colm O’Callaghan but Westmeath would soon establish their first lead.
After Dolan’s third point, Sam McCartan played a brilliant one-two with Whittaker before rolling the ball to the net.
When his brother Danny landed his second two-pointer, the scoreboard read 2-12 to 1-12.
They would trade the lead a couple more times in quick succession. Jones’ second goal, after being fed by Matty Taylor, moved Cork back ahead by the minimum with 18 minutes to play.
From the next attack, the McCartans combined for Danny to launch his third two-pointer with the outside of his boot.
Jones levelled for Cork at 2-14 apiece before Sam McCartan arrowed over the Lake County’s fourth two-pointer.
The Rebels responded with the next three from McDonnell, O’Driscoll, and Cathail O’Mahony but Conor Dillon equalised for a fourth time.
Then came Cork’s decisive move. After an O’Callaghan point, Tommy Walsh supplied Jones’ hat-trick goal as music suddenly blared over the public address.
They led 3-18 to 2-17 but Westmeath came straight back into it with Whittaker lofting across the square for Wallace to palm in.
KEY: tp - two-point score; tpf - two-point free; tpm - two-point mark
Cork: P Doyle; M Shanley, D O’Mahony, N Lordan; T Walsh, R Maguire, M Taylor; S Walsh, C O’Callaghan (0-02); P Walsh, E McSweeney (0-02, 1tp), B O’Driscoll (0-04, 1tp); M Cronin (0-02, 1f), C Óg Jones (3-04), S McDonnell (0-03, 1tp).
Subs: S Brady for Shanley (32, inj), R Deane for P Walsh (42), I Maguire for S Walsh (43), B Hurley for McSweeney (46), S Walsh for O’Callaghan (58-61, temp), C O’Mahony (0-01) for McDonnell (61).
Westmeath: C McCormack; J Gonoud, C Dillon (0-01), C Drumm; M Whittaker (1-00), J Geoghegan, R Wallace (1-01); K O’Sullivan, R Forde (0-01); D McCartan (0-06, 3tp), B Cooney, S McCartan (1-03, 1tp); B Kelly (0-01), L Loughlin (0-01f), L Dolan (0-03).
Subs: E Gaffney for Geoghegan (8-10, temp), S Smith for Kelly (47), K Martin for Cooney (52), Gaffney for Forde (55), A Kilmartin for Dolan (61), D Scahill for O’Sullivan (67).
Referee: B Griffin (Kerry)
