Cork 1-11 Dublin 1-10: Cork overcame treacherous underfoot conditions and a typically robust Dublin challenge to collect their first points before a 2,500 crowd at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday night.
It left manager Billy Morgan upbeat about the rest of the league campaign, starting with Mayo next Sunday.
"I'm delighted with the performance given we had to make changes before the game and didn't have the under-21s either," he said.
He was referring to the loss through injury of Derek Kavanagh (hamstring) and Kevin McMahon (back) before the throw-in and Cork's plight was compounded by injuries to Noel O'Leary and Seán Levis during the game.
Dublin boss Paul Caffrey wasn't too downbeat: "I thought we were going to get something out of the game. It was a great occasion. I'm a firm advocate of floodlit games," he said.
The outcome hung in the balance right to the finish as the visitors hit back strongly, despite having been reduced to 14 players following a second yellow card to Denis Bastick.
Cork had crept three points clear, 1-11 to 1-8, after 63 minutes and, with a numerical advantage, were in a strong position. But Dublin's spirit ensured a nervous conclusion for their hosts as Alan Brogan and Ciarán Whelan pointed to leave the minimum between the teams only for time to run out on the visitors.
Dublin began brightly, David O'Callaghan and Conal Keaney scoring, but hesitancy in defence allowed Cork in for a soft goal after six minutes. Seán O'Brien's shot looked to be heading into the arms of Stephen Cluxton, but debutant Donncha O'Connor ghosted in to fist the ball to the net.
With Graham Canty and Anthony Lynch excelling at the back, Cork moved 1-3 to 0-2 in front entering the second quarter and extended their advantage with three points in as many minutes.
As half-time approached, Cork, whose entire forward division had scored by this stage, gave Dublin a lifeline as Declan Lally goaled after Tomás Quinn's effort was blocked, leaving it 1-6 to 1-3 at the break.
That goal reignited Dublin's challenge and three unanswered points, two from Bryan Cullen and one from Quinn, levelled matters at 1-8 each to set up an intriguing finale.
CORK: A Quirke; M Prout, G Canty, K O'Connor; S Levis, G Spillane, A Lynch; D Hurley, N O'Leary (0-1); C McCarthy (0-1), D Niblock (0-2), S O'Brien (0-1); J Masters (0-2, one free), K O'Sullivan (0-3, two frees); D O'Connor (1-0). Subs: D Mehigan for Levis (inj, 17 mins), G Murphy (0-1) for O'Leary (inj, 56 mins), D Coughlan for Mehigan (63 mins) .
DUBLIN: S Cluxton; P Griffin, B Cahill, D Henry; P Casey, C Goggins, P Andrews; D Bastic, D Magee; C Keaney (0-1), B Cullen (0-3), D Lally (1-0); D O'Callaghan (0-2), S Ryan, T Quinn (0-2, one free). Subs: C Whelan (0-1) for Magee (34 mins), A Brogan (0-1) for Ryan (half-time), K Bonner for Keaney (49 mins), M Vaughan for O'Callaghan (67 mins).
Referee: P McEnaney (Monaghan).
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