Rumours of Cork's demise are clearly exaggerated if this superb 1-15 to 0-16 victory over Dublin at Pairc Ui Rinn this afternoon is anything to go by.

This match ebbed and flowed but the hosts showed tremendous resolve and were deserving winners as the Metropolitans' long run without a win on Cork soil was extended.

Jamie O'Sullivan's eleventh-minute goal proved the decisive score, assuring the victors of a narrow 1-7 to 0-9 lead at the end of an entertaining first half.

Points from Tomas Brady and Kevin McManamon in the third and fourth minutes respectively got the Leinster champions off to a flying start but the Rebels replied with efforts from Fintan Goold and John O'Rourke before a Dean Rock free restored the Dubs lead.

O'Sullivan's major propelled the hosts into the lead for the first time but back came the visitors to draw level again with scores from Cormac Costello and Rock (free): 0-5 to 1-2.

Jim Gavin's men went back ahead in the 19th minute thanks to a Shane Carthy finish and Rock's third converted free two minutes later doubled the difference. It was a one-point contest again when Brian Hurley provided the Leesiders' first score in some twelve minutes - that point arriving in the 23rd.

Further points from Colm O'Neill and Conor Dorman edged Brian Cuthbert's charges back ahead by the 29th minute. O'Rourke restored the Rebels' advantage after Costello had levelled matters and an O'Neill free on the stroke of the short whistle handed the hosts a two-point cushion.

An injury-time point from Eoghan O'Gara ensured that the sides were separated by the minimum margin at the interval.

The lead changed hands again thanks to a Rock brace in the 41st and 43rd minutes and Ken O'Halloran's save kept the would-be winners in it before O'Neill and Rock traded frees. When points from O'Neill (free) and Hurley had the sides level with 19 minutes to go, the Dubs replied in kind through McManamon and Rock: 0-15 to 1-10 after 55 minutes.

Cork refused to give up and further frees from O'Neill and Hurley again tied the scores up with twelve minutes of normal time remaining. This time, the Rebels kicked on and scores from Mark Collins and Eoin Cadogan left them two ahead after 65 minutes.

Substitute Michael Deegan's 69th-minute point set up a grandstand finale but it was the Rebels who kept their composure to win, with Dorman providing the insurance point in stoppage time.

Cork - K O'Halloran; T Clancy, E Cadogan (0-1), J Loughrey; C Dorman (0-2), B O'Driscoll, J O'Sullivan (1-0); F Goold (0-1), I Maguire; M Collins (0-1), J O'Rourke (0-2), C O'Driscoll; C O'Neill (0-5, 4f), D Og Hodnett, B Hurley (0-3, 1f). Subs: P Kerrigan for J O'Sullivan, J Hayes for D Og Hodnett, L Connolly for C O'Driscoll, I Maguire for K O'Driscoll.

Dublin - S Currie; E Culligan, R O'Carroll, D Daly; J Cooper, J Small, J McCaffrey; D Bastick, S Carthy (0-1); T Brady (0-1), D Rock (0-8, 4f), E O'Conghaile; K McManamon (0-2), E O'Gara (0-2), C Costello (0-1). Subs: D Byrne for E O'Conghaile, B Fenton for D Bastick, C Reddin for S Carthy, C McHugh for C Costello, E Lowndes for J Cooper, M Deegan (0-1) for E O'Gara.

Referee - R Hickey.

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