A two-point free from Steven Sherlock was the difference as Cork came from seven points down to defeat Cavan by the bare minimum in Division 2 at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
The St Finbarr's club stalwart announced his return to the inter-county scene as a substitute with two orange flags as John Cleary’s side pipped the Breffni men in a full-blooded encounter on Leeside.
Cavan will leave in disbelief after seeing such a lead slip, following on from a first half that saw five wides against Cork’s two.
The visitors burst out the traps and took a three-point lead inside two minutes, with two scores coming from turnovers.
The Rebels hit back with Colm O’Callaghan and Ruairi Deane putting the ball over the bar. Mark Cronin’s first of the afternoon ensured parity, just before Dara McVeety got in to edge Cavan back in front at 0-04 to 0-03.
Cork then took the lead through a Sean McDonnell two-pointer in the 14th minute and Cronin added to this from play.
The Ulster side kept their shape in response, and hit back with a deep run down the right from Conor Brady. The midfielder went on to square to McVeety at the back post and the forward punched in for a green flag in the 16th minute.
Paul Walsh and a Cronin free nudged the hosts back in front, with Brian Hurley claiming the final score of the half as he raised an orange flag, Cork leading 0-13 to 0-08.
Cavan responded to Luke Fahy’s early second-half score with two quick Gearoid McKiernan scores which included an orange flag from a free.
Ciarán Brady tacked on another point, with goalkeeper Liam Brady denying McDonnell a goal. Cavan got into a similar situation in the 45th minute, and on this occasion Brady rattled the back of the net to push his side further in front, 2-12 to 0-14.
With Cork under the cosh, McVeety, Niall Carolan and substitute Paddy Lynch pressed home their advantage.
A two-pointer from Lynch extended the lead to seven with seven minutes remaining as Cavan looked set for an away win.
The Rebels however slowly found their way back into it, beginning with McDonnell getting his second of the game in the 65th minute. Sherlock followed that up by stepping outside the arc and sending over a two-pointer from play, while Cronin kept things ticking over with a free.
Slowly, almost by inches, Cork were back in it. Chris Og Jones fisted over to set up the big finish, and Sherlock delivered it with an orange flag.
Cork: Patrick Doyle; Sean Brady, Daniel O’Mahony, Tommy Walsh; Brian O’Driscoll, Rory Maguire, Luke Fahy (0-2); Colm O’Callaghan (0-1), Sean Walsh; Paul Walsh (0-2), Sean McDonnell (0-3, 1 2pt), Ruairi Deane (0-1); Mark Cronin (0-7, 4f), Brian Hurley (0-3, 1 2pt), Chris Og Jones (0-1).
Subs: Matty Taylor for Maguire (47); Ian Maguire for Walsh (48), Dara Sheedy for Deane (48), Steven Sherlock (0-4, 2 2pt, 1 2pt from free) for Hurley (52), Maurice Shanley for Brady (60).
Cavan: Liam Brady; Jason McLoughlin, Niall Carolan (0-1), Paddy Meade; Ciaran Brady-Arva (1-1), Dara McVeety (1-4), Gerard Smith (0-1); Ciaran Brady, Conor Brady; Ryan Donohue, Cormac Brady , Tiarnan Madden (0-1); Oisin Brady (0-2), Gearoid McKiernan (0-3, 1 2pt from free), Peter Corrigan (0-1).
Subs: Patrick Lynch (0-3, 1 2pt from free) for Corrigan (43); Ryan Brady for Ciaran Brady (48), Darragh Lovett for Ciaran Brady (60), Tristan Noack Hofmann for Carolan (65), Eoin Clarke for Donohue (69).
Referee: Brendan Griffin (Kerry)
