Cork edged out Galway by 1-19 to 1-17 in their round three clash in division one of the National Football League at Páirc Uí Rinn.
Galway were dealt an early blow with the departure of Sean Armstrong with a hamstring injury after only ten minutes.
Cork took full advantage, with Donnacha O'Connor registering two points as the Rebels went into a 0-05 to 0-02 lead.
Con Counihan's men had extended that lead to seven points (1-10 to 0-06) by half-time, with the Cork goal coming from a trademark, lung-busting run and finish from Pearse O'Neill.
Joe Kernan's Galway refused to lie down, however, and even though Cork went nine points ahead within two minutes of the restart, Galway chipped away at the lead with Michael Meehan and Nickey Joyce leading the charge.
By the hour mark it was a four-point game after Galway's Gary Sice had a simple tap-in when Meehan's fisted effort came back off the upright.
Donncha O'Connor and Paddy Kelly steadied the ship for Cork but three unanswered points made for a nervous finish for the home side before time finally ran out for Kernan's side.
