Cork manager John Cleary said their lodestar was "consistency" as they maintained their 100% record with a significant win over Meath in Páirc Uí Rinn.
The Rebels' hopes of returning to the top tier for the first time in a decade received a major shot in the arm as they triumphed in this afternoon's top of the table clash, Chris Óg Jones's goal just before the interval helping them into a 1-15 to 0-11 half-time lead.
They had to weather a late storm following Ian Maguire's sending off as Meath rattled off five points in a row in the closing minutes but the hosts hung on to win and retain their place at the summit of Division 2.
"We're thrilled to get over the line. It was a game that ebbed and flowed," Cleary told RTÉ Sunday Sport afterwards.
"We looked to be heading for home, I suppose, until the sending off. In these games, it's a huge, huge thing and we were lucky to hold on in the end.
"The word [at half-time] was to try and keep the lead as long as we could. And they had four points on the board probably in the first minute of the second half.
"I thought we battled and played heroically from there on in against a very strong breeze.
"We worked some great scores, as in fairness, they did as well. It was nip and tuck in the finish coming down the home straight. I thought we just about deserved to get over the line."
The win now means that Cork are in touching distance of a return to the top flight, albeit with games against the original favourites Tyrone and Derry still to come.
Cork have been stuck in the second tier since their banishment from Division 1 in 2016. It was a cruel twist of fate for Peadar Healy's side that season, when they achieved the then novel feat of being relegated on six points.
A loss to Kerry in the final round, combined with wins for Monaghan and Mayo elsewhere saw them demoted on score difference. They haven't been back since.
Since then, they've struggled for traction, and more often than not they've been seeking to avoid falling into the Tailteann Cup rather than looking upwards towards promotion at this stage of the league.
"I always say, look, what we try to do is get consistency into this team," says Cleary. "Consistency during games and consistency from game to game. That's what we're trying to do.
"We know we've not even won yet or whatever. But look it's a nice run to be on and it helps with confidence.
"It doesn't get any easier. We're heading for Derry next week. But look we're in the melting pot at this stage and we'll see how far it takes us."
With the Cork hurlers on a bye-week, the usual Páirc Uí Chaoimh double header wasn't a possibility and the footballers were switched to the tighter environs of the former Flower Lodge. The alternative venue produced a heightened atmosphere.
"I thought the atmosphere was super here today. In fairness, Meath travelled in big numbers as well.
"People tell me it was a very, very good game. That's the way it looked to me as well so, look, I'm delighted Cork football people came in and saw what we're capable of and saw a very good, entertaining game.
"Hopefully now they'll keep following us because coming down the home straight, they were our 16th man and it's small margins. That was probably the difference in us getting over the line today."
Meath boss Robbie Brennan rued the costly spell in the last couple of minutes running up to half-time, Cork rustling up 1-03 in 90 seconds to stretch a one-point lead out to seven.
"We were looking at the scoreboard at that stage, 11-10, 12-10, whatever it was, and thinking, 'okay, we haven't exactly played well but get into the dressing room and see what we can do'
"But they hit us with a big whammy at that stage. But we were still happy enough at half-time that with these new rules we could claw that back. And we nearly did.
"All credit to the lads, they kept fighting. We nearly got there but just ran out of time.
"Overall, disappointed. We came down to get the two points and keep the momentum going. But all credit to Cork. They were a little bit better on the day and deserved the win. We'll just live to fight another day and we'll head to Newbridge next week."
