Cork are through to the All-Ireland SFC final for the second successive year after they came from behind to narrowly deny Dublin late on at sunsplashed Croke Park on Sunday on a 1-15 to 1-14 scoreline.
Conor Counihan's men looked second best for long periods of the game, particularly in the first-half, and trailed by four points at the break - Bernard Brogan's early goal giving the Dubs a well-deserved 1-8 to 0-7 advantage.
Brogan, who illuminated this fantastic encounter from the word go with some sublime scores, netted for Pat Gilroy's men after just two minutes to give the Leinster kingpins the perfect start.
Alan Brogan soon got his name on the scoresheet to move the men from the capital 1-1 to 0-1 following Donncha O'Connor's point for the Rebels.
With 12 minutes played the younger Brogan got his second score of the day as Dublin eased into a 1-4 to 0-2 lead.
Six minutes later Cork midfielder Aidan Walsh slotted over an inspirational score to leave the Rebels just four behind despite being completely outplayed.
Daniel Goulding kicked Cork's eighth wide of the half after 26 minutes and two minutes later Michael Daragh McCauley rubbed salt in the Cork wounds as he punched Dublin's first point in ten minutes.
Paddy Kelly and Bernard Brogan traded superb scores over the next couple of minutes and when the spirited Kelly obliged again on 33 minutes there was just a goal in it as the break approached.
However, Brogan was to finish the half with the last score - his tally for the first 35 minutes an impressive 1-4.
Cork emerged in the second-half minus the services of captain Graham Canty and Dublin showed no sympathy as Ross McConnell pushed the boys in blue five points ahead after 41 minutes with a wonderful left-footed score.
Seven minutes later Brogan, yes Brogan - Bernard that is - brought his tally in the championship to 3-40 as Dublin moved 1-10 to 0-8 ahead.
Paul Kerrigan soon replied with interest for Counihan's charges but the game's turning point came to pass a few minutes later when the Munster outfit were awarded a penalty after a McConnell foul.
Ballydesmond's Donncha O'Connor cooly slotted home the spot kick to move his side to within one point - 1-10 to 1-9 with 17 minutes to play.
Bernard Brogan's sixth point gave Dublin some breathing space again, and Bryan Cullen followed that up with his first of the day in the 59th minute.
However, Cork had not gone away and points from substitute Colm O'Neill and Kelly left the bare minimum between them once again.
With just over four minutes to play Conal Keaney justified his introduction as a substitute - pointing to move the Dubs two ahead.
However, a pair of O'Connor frees finally tied things up with two minutes of normal time left, and he he gave them the lead for the first time in the 70th minute after McConnell had been sent off for a rash challenge on Noel O'Leary.
Injury time substitute Derek Kavanagh nailed on a point and while Bernard Brogan brought his total to 1-7, the Dubs fell just short, and Cork survived.