Cork maintained their one hundred percent record in National Football League Division One with a thrilling 1-19 to 1-7 victory over Galway at Pairc Ui Rinn on Saturday evening.
It is three wins from three for the Rebels, but just one for the Tribesmen, who gave as good as they got in the eary stages as Paul O'Flynn, Paddy Kelly and Donncha O'Connor (for Cork) and Nicky Joyce, Sean Armstrong and Michael Meehan (for Galway) all got on the scoresheet.
However, a rosy spell for the Rebels saw Colm O'Neill put them 0-7 to 0-4 clear and then a big moment came as the same player collected the ball and laid it off expertly to Pearse O'Neill, the robust midfielder firing the ball past Eoin O Conghaile for his side's only goal.
Kelly and O'Connor added points as the Rebels led by seven at the break, 1-10 to 0-6.
The second half remained combative, however, though Galway had to wait until after a great move involving Alan O'Connor and Pearse O'Neill led to an O'Flynn point in the first minute of the second 35 before their comeback could begin.
Joyce and Meehan played key scoring roles in that fightback, though with a little over ten minutes to go they still trailed by 1-16 to 0-13, the pick of Cork's second half efforts a fine collection, turn and shot from Daniel Goulding.
Galway hopes were raised though after Meehan's fisted effort rebounded off the bar and fell perfectly for Gary Sice to poke over the line.
That, and a lovely Cillian de Paor score, woke Cork up somewhat as Donncha O'Connor scored another fine point and as the game entered added time - and Cork sub John Hayes was sent off for a second yellow card - they led by two points.
Galway's Danny Cummins then had the chance to win it at the death but blazed across goal and wide as the Rebels held on for a win that their first half play and fine scoring just about merited.