Cork came with a late scoring burst at Páirc Uí Chaoimh to beat Limerick 0-17 to 1-09 and send the Shannonsiders down to Division Three for next season.
The Rebels ensured their place in next year' restructured NFL Division Two, winning with substitute Daniel Goulding and James Masters (0-2 each) starring in a late seven-point run.
Limerick's challenge fell apart after the break, despite a penalty from Micheal Reidy early in the second half.
The sides were level five times in the opening period. Cork led 0-8 to 0-7 at the break, despite hitting eight wides. Kevin O’Sullivan had a penalty kick saved by Sean Kiely.
Cork made a series of changes to their side before the throw-in, with Derek Kavanagh being deployed at full-back, in what was a winner-takes-all clash.
Conor McCarthy opened the scoring for Billy Morgan's side who went 0-02 to 0-01 ahead when Masters cancelled out a free from Reidy.
A jersey pull on Bernie Collins was spotted by referee Tomas Quigley, and Cork were awarded a penalty, which Kiely did excellently to get down to the his left and save.
Reidy and O'Sullivan traded scores as Cork kept 0-04 to 0-03 and while the visitors, with Shane Gallagher, Pat Ahern and Reidy prominent, did fight back to level at 0-07 apiece, Masters’ injury-time free sent Cork in at the break with a single point lead.
Limerick got the ideal start to the second half four minutes in, when Kavanagh's tangle with Darren Horan produced a penalty, which Reidy converted.
But a series of wides blighted Limerick's play and an injury to midfield John Galvin robbed them of one of their best players on the day.
Cork's Nicholas Murphy began to excel in midfield and the Rebels outscored Limerick by 0-7 to 0-1 in the closing 15 minutes to easily see out the win.
Goulding, who helped the Cork Under-21s regain the Munster title yesterday, came on to good effect and Limerick’s only point in that time came from Gareth Noonan, four minutes from the end.
