Aidan Kilcoyne led the scoring as Mayo lifted their first Cadbury's All-Ireland Under-21 Football title since 1983, beating Cork 1-13 to 1-11 in an end-to-end decider in Ennis.
Knockmore attacker Kilcoyne scored 1-06, including a crucial penalty after 36 minutes and a brilliant point from the sideline in the first half, to propel the westerners - joint-managed by Pat Holmes and Noel Connelly this season - to the county's fourth All-Ireland at this grade.
Cork did have their chances. They led by three points at the break and were four up before Mayo midfielder Seamus O'Shea was fouled for the spot kick. Just a few minutes later, the Rebels had corner-back Stephen O'Donoghue sent off for a second bookable offence, but credibly, they fought to the finish with top scorer Daniel Goulding (1-04 (2f)) almost nabbing a last-gasp goal.
The strong and elusive running of the Cork forwards was the dominant feature of the first half. Caragh Keane, who netted in the semi-final win over Tyrone, won a second-minute free for John Hayes to point.
A slip by Mayo captain Keith Higgins allowed Goulding, one of four Cork senior stars on show, to add a second, two minutes later. Mayo's poor start would have been compounded had Hayes, after a searing break, not rattled the Mayo crossbar with a tight-angled shot.
At the other end, good work by Marcus Hannick and senior player Barry Moran set up Mark Ronaldson for a goal chance but he snatched at it, sending it to the left and wide.
On 9 minutes, Kilcoyne slotted over Mayo's first point and the senior panellist was to lead his side's scoring in the opening half with 0-03. Skipper Paul Kerrigan and Fintan Gould then landed scores for Cork and Michael Conroy replied for the Connacht champions.
Goulding ended a barren period with a free after 24 minutes and then Kilcoyne caught the eye with two points in the space of three minutes. His third of the afternoon was a stunning point straight from a sideline out on the left flank.
That score, which ignited the Mayo faithful, brought the westerners to within a point but Goulding notched his third point – the second from a free – and Keane also added his second before the half's end.
0-04 to 0-07 down at the break, Mayo needed to make the most of their chances in the second half and they did. After Hayes had nudged Cork four in front, a combination of Ray Carey and Michael Shields were seen to tug at midfielder O'Shea's jersey and Cavan referee Joe McQuillan signalled immediately for a penalty.
They were innocuous looking challenges but Kilcoyne did not care as he beat Cork 'keeper Ken O'Halloran at the second attempt – his initial shot was straight down the middle of the Rebels' goal.
With an evident fire in their bellies, Mayo, who included five players from last year's minor panel, tagged on the next four points through Conroy, Kilcoyne (2f) and substitute Enda Varley.
Kilcoyne's first effort, which saw Mayo go in front for the first time after 41 minutes, was awarded after O'Donoghue was found guilty of hauling down Varley and his harsh dismissal proved costly for Cork.
Although Goulding claimed a high ball, turned and rifled a low left-footed shot in off the post for a goal on 47 minutes, which levelled the game at 1-08 apiece, Mayo bossed the concluding fifteen minutes.
The Connacht side outscored Cork by 0-05 to 0-03 in the closing minutes as sub Kevin Costello, Chris Barrett, Kilcoyne (free) and Conroy and Ronaldson – with the latter two pointing decisively in injury time – kept Mayo ahead.
Gould (0-02 (1 '45) and Goulding, who flashed a shot over when a goal looked on in deepest injury time, answered back for Cork, but fittingly, Mayo ended their All-Ireland drought – it is the county's first All-Ireland football title at any level since their Juniors swept to glory in 1997 – with delighted dual star Keith Higgins lifting the cup.
CORK: K O’Halloran; R Carey, C Murphy, S O’Donoghue; D Limerick, M Shields, E Cadogan; A O’Connor, P Kelly; F Gould, C Keane, P Kerrigan (capt); D Goulding, P O’Flynn, J Hayes.
Subs used: G O’Shea for Hayes (44 mins), F Lynch for Kelly (52)
MAYO: K O’Malley; T Howley, G Cafferkey, K Higgins (capt); C Barrett, T Cunniffe, C Boyle; S O’Shea, B Moran; A Campbell, J Dillon, A Kilcoyne; M Ronaldson, M Hannick, M Conroy.
Subs used: S Ryan for Boyle (half time), K Costello for Dillon, E Varley for Hannick (both 40 mins)
Yellow cards: Kilcoyne (Mayo) (14 mins), Gould (Cork) (26), Higgins (Mayo) (28), O’Donoghue (Cork) (32), Conroy (Mayo) (60+2); Red card: O’Donoghue (41)
Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)
