Westmeath are beginning to believe the inner voice. It's been building for a few years now at under-age level and yesterday in Croke Park it grew louder still. Before long it may well become a voice of the new generation.

It's an inner voice that says talent combined with hard work will pay off, and no matter who is in the way, victory can ease down the road. And although Cork may have been league champions just two years ago, even this, the smaller crown, can mean as much to a team like Westmeath.

At times they did seem to fear their more established opposition. Cork's physical presence is enough to fear in itself and yet by the end of a lively 70 minutes, Westmeath had the sharper edge.

Three sweet goals at three crucial moments brought them the deserving victory, and while Cork were always going to have one eye on the championship, defeat at this time of the year can be a dangerous thing.

There have been common threads through this successful league campaign. Ger Heavin is as reliable a forward as they come. David O'Shaughnessy and Paul Conway can control any game at midfield. Defensively, David Murphy and Fergal Murray prove that size doesn't matter and Martin Flanagan is not a bad man to have on the bench.

Common to this win and the county's recent minor and under-21 titles is manager Luke Dempsey, in his first season with the seniors and with the magic still freely flowing. But while he'll talk about the team, he won't quite tell what is behind the curtain.

"I hate being asked what the secret is. But one of the most important things is getting the group of players to have self belief in the ability to play well as a team, and not just individually.

"There were definitely times today when we were giving Cork a little too much respect, especially in the first half. They were allowed dictate the game from full back and we were always coming second to the ball. Then we started to show the spirit that is in the group. And the belief started to set in."

That short-term lack of belief allowed Cork to hold a 1-9 to 1-5 lead at half-time. Aidan Dorgan and Ciaran O'Sullivan were enjoying too much free space and after 10 minutes the latter set up Michael Cronin for the opening goal. After the first quarter hour Cork were five points clear.

Westmeath's first real response came shortly after with Heavin's first goal, laid on confidently by Des Dolan. He should have added a couple more before the break but his final touch was just an inch out of tune.

Straight after the turnaround, the team belief was set alight. Points from Dolan and Heavin reduced the gap to the minimum and after 15 minutes they were in front when Heavin coolly converted the penalty after Conway was pulled down.

Then came the big test. Cork shot back in front after less than a minute when Colin Corkery set up Fionan Murray. Westmeath's Fergal Wilson and Flanagan proved they could step up a gear - and the sides were level again just after the hour.

Seven minutes from the end, O'Shaughnessy delivered the deciding goal and Cork spent the last five minutes chasing time. Despite a couple of disappointing wides at the end, Westmeath appeared safe with just the extra point.

And so roll on Meath, Westmeath's championship opponents come June 3rd. "Look, we all know Meath will relish this challenge, especially in that they are now looked on as a team in decline. That's when Meath are at their most dangerous. So we all know the force they will be in a few weeks time," said Dempsey.

For Larry Tompkins, clearly disappointed with the loss as much as they way they played, there was no excuse. "Westmeath came at us in droves in the second half and we just had no answer," he said.

WESTMEATH: C Mullin; D Murphy, D Mitchell, F Murray; D Gavin, D Healy, J Keane; D O'Shaughnessy (1-0), P Conway (0-1); B Morley, F Wilson (0-3, all frees), M Ennis; J Fallon (0-2, both frees), D Dolan (0-1), G Heavin (2-2, one free). Subs: D Heavin (0-1) for Keane (22 mins); M Flanagan (0-1) for Fallon; D Hughes for Gavin (both half-time); R O'Connell for Wilson (60 mins).

CORK: K O'Dwyer; J Miskella, G Canty, A Lynch; M O'Donovan, O Sexton (0-1), M Cronin; N Murphy, M O'Sullivan; M Cronin (1-0), C O'Sullivan (0-3), A Cronin; P Clifford, C Corkery (0-6, five frees, one 65), A Dorgan (0-3). Subs: F Murray (1-0) for A Cronin (2 mins); B O'Sullivan for M Cronin (42); S Og O hAilpin for O'Donovan (45 mins); K Daly for Clifford (60 mins); D Kavanagh for O'Sullivan (65 mins).

Referee: M McGrath (Donegal).