Cork dumped Roscommon out of the championship in a thriller at Portlaoise, winning out 0-19 to 0-17 victors.
Five unanswered points before the break alongside their ability to keep the scoreboard ticking over in the third quarter, stretching their advantage to six points at one stage, gave John Cleary's side a buffer that the Rossies couldn’t overcome.
Roscommon came with a late rally but, just like the Meath game, their efficiency in front of goal let them down as they spurned a host of presentable chances.
Davy Burke’s side made the brighter start with points from Donie Smith — a late replacement for Colm Neary — and his Boyle team-mate Daire Cregg.
But a Brian O’Driscoll two-pointer from the right wing — the only orange flag of the game — brought the sides level after six minutes.
For the next 15 minutes, both teams enjoyed periods of dominance but Cork always looked capable of opening up the Roscommon defence, thanks to their dominance on the Roscommon kickout where Ian Maguire and Paul Walsh were picking up plenty of possession.
After the 20 minutes, it was 0-05 apiece — Seán McDonnell, Mark Cronin (free) and Brian Hurley on target for John Cleary’s men, while Ciaráin Murtagh, Senan Lambe and Cregg split the posts for the Rossies.
A fine individual point for Enda Smith edged Roscommon back in front in the 21st minute but that’s as good as it got for them as Cork exploited the space being afforded to them and too many unforced errors by the opposition.
The excellent Maguire blazed two efforts over the crossbar, which could just as easily have been goals, while Cronin (free) and McDonnell also troubled the scoreboard to leave Cork deservedly 0-10 to 0-06 ahead at the break.
Just like the opening 35 minutes, Roscommon made a better start to the new half with points from Dylan Ruane and Daire Cregg.
But Cork, led by Maguire and Colm O’Callaghan around the middle, were always able to keep their noses in front — the latter kicking two points during another Rebels’ purple patch.
Trailing by 0-17 to 0-11 and their championship on the line, Roscommon went for broke, aided by the impact off their bench.
Diarmuid Murtagh, substitute Cian McKeon and Daire Cregg grabbed points but, arguably, the turning point of the game was when Cork goalkeeper Míchéal Aodh Martin denied Cregg what looked like a certain goal after a brilliant pass from Enda Smith.
There was consolation for Roscommon with goalkeeper Conor Carroll pointing the resultaning ’45 and, when Cregg grabbed his fifth point of the afternoon, there was only a point between the teams with six minutes remaining.
Diarmuid and Ciaráin Murtagh snatched at a couple of two-point attempts as Roscommon sought to make their momentum count but Cork substitute Cathail O’Mahony lifted the siege with his side’s first score in 13 minutes.
Martin also did well to punch a two-point effort from Diarmuid Murtagh, which would have forced a draw, to safety.
Roscommon tried to work a two-pointer from the resultant ’45, which would have ensured their progression to the last 12, but when an effort from Diarmuid Murtagh was blocked by Daniel O'Mahony after the hooter sounded, Cork survived and claimed their biggest win of the season.
Cork: Míchéal Aodh Martin; Seán Meehan, Daniel O’Mahony, Maurice Shanley; Brian O’Driscoll (0-02, 1 2p), Seán Brady, Matty Taylor; Ian Maguire (0-02), Colm O’Callaghan (0-02); Paul Walsh (0-01), Seán Walsh, Seán McDonnell (0-04); Mark Cronin (0-05, 2f), Brian Hurley (0-01), Chris Óg Jones.
Subs: Rory Maguire for Meehan (h-t), Eoghan McSweeney (0-01) for Walsh (41), Seán Powter for Walsh (55), Ruairí Deane for Taylor (58), Cathail O’Mahony (0-01) for Óg Jones (61).
Roscommon: Conor Carroll (0-01, 1’45); Pearse Frost, Brian Stack, David Murray; Ronan Daly, Shane Cunnane, Senan Lambe (0-01); Eddie Nolan (0-01), Enda Smith (0-01); Dylan Ruane (0-01), Donie Smith (0-01), Daire Cregg (0-05); Ben O’Carroll (0-01), Diarmuid Murtagh (0-02), Ciaráin Murtagh (0-01).
Subs: Keith Doyle for Nolan (41-44, temp), Colm Neary for Donie Smith (49), Cian McKeon (0-02) for Ruane (52), Conor Hand for Daly (53), Ciarán Lennon for O’Carroll (55), Declan Kenny for Lambe (65).
Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan).
Watch an All-Ireland Football Championship double-header, Monaghan v Down and Donegal v Mayo, on Sunday from 1.30pm. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to updates on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Sunday Game at 9.30pm.
