Three takeaways from Cork's thrilling win over Westmeath

1: CHRIS ÓG JONES: After a quiet display against Down by his own standards last time out, Jones was on fire here. The Iveleary player was without question the best player on the pitch. 3-4, all from play. What a performance. He has been Cork’s top player over the last two seasons.

His third goal was beautifully dispatched into the roof of the net. A special mention must also go to Matty Taylor and Ruairí Deane who played a part in helping Jones bag three goals. As well as scoring what he did, Jones' overall display was also impressive. 

2: HOME COMFORTS: A second successive home win in the league for the first time in five years and that was when Cork were in Division 3. You have to go back to 2015 for the last time the Rebels recorded back-to-back wins at home in one of the top two tiers.

The performance wasn’t outstanding, but that can be worked on this week. Getting the win and ending a few unwanted records was all that mattered. Four points from the first three games is Cork's best start to a Division 2 league campaign in seven years. 

3: BOUNCEBACKABILITY: The Rebels have suffered setbacks over the last few years, but they always have that knack of responding. It’s a good sign of a team that they can keep bouncing back from disappointing defeats even if it’s happening more than they would like.

This was a pressure game where only a win would have done with Monaghan and Roscommon to come in the next two games. Cork could have easily wilted when they trailed by three points midway through the second half, they didn’t and they got the win.