Cork overturned an eight-point half-time deficit to defeat Meath 0-30 to 1-24 in a gripping All-Ireland SFC Round 1 encounter in front of 8,526 spectators at Páirc Uí Rinn.
Steven Sherlock led the comeback by hitting 14 points, including four orange flags with three coming after the break.
The Rebels did not have it all their own way, as their mission was complicated by the 57th-minute dismissal of Colm O'Callaghan after a tackle on Oisin Martin during a battle for the ball in midfield.
Cork held out, and the victory was sealed with a breakaway score from Conor Corbett on the buzzer.
That was a scenario that seemed unthinkable at the break, despite the first half seeing both sides level six times, as Meath were firmly in control with a 1-16 to 0-11 advantage.
The decisive moment was a rapid 1-04 that saw Ciaran Caulfield goal from a Jordan Morris pass in the 27th minute and Eoghan Frayne raise two orange flags.
That shot Robbie Brennan’s side in front, 1-14 to 0-09, and things got better when James Conlon and Matthew Costello put the ball over the bar. O’Callaghan and Chis Og Jones offered a response for Cork, but it felt like they were swimming against the tide as everything seemed to go the way of Meath.
The Rebels then produced one of their best attacking flurries of the season, as the Royal County were outgunned 0-12 to 0-01 during a frantic spell from the hosts. Orange flags were the key to such a turnaround as Sherlock raised two and Mark Cronin and David Buckley got one each, and Cork went in front at 0-23 to 1-17.
Sean Brennan hit back with a free from outside the arc, and the hosts retaliated with Ian Maguire squeezing the ball over and Cronin nailing a free.
Conlon reduced the gap down to two at 0-25 to 1-20, with a well worked score from play.
Then came the red card for O’Callaghan and a new game was created in a matter of seconds.
Frayne was the first benefactor, with his free making it a one point game at 0-25 to 1-21.
A point from Daniel O’Mahony seemed to take the edge off for Cork, but it was met with fine efforts from Conlon and Oisin Martin.
The Rebels continued to push up in response; they even had an Ian Maguire fisted goal ruled out due to a square ball in the 61st minute.
Martin hit back to ensure parity at 0-27 to 1-24, and that was the last time Meath were able to put the ball over the bar.
The Rebels dug deep during the remaining moments to win three crucial turnovers inside their own half, and one ended with Sherlock curling over a two-pointer, making it 0-29 to 1-24.
The Royal County had to roll the dice if they were to force extra-time, and the odds were in favour of Cork.
It finished with a neat breakaway and Corbett slotting over a winner that seemed beyond reason at half-time.
Cork: Patrick Doyle; Maurice Shanley (0-01), Daniel O’Mahony (0-01); Sean Meehan, Brian O’Drscoll, Tommy Walsh, Luke Fahy; Colm O’Callaghan (0-02), Ian Maguire (0-01); Paul Walsh (0-01), Sean McDonnell, David Buckley (0-03, 1tp); Mark Cronin (0-05, 1 2ptf, 1f), Chris Og Jones (0-01), Steven Sherlock (0-14, 3tp, 1tpf, 5f, 1 '45').
Subs: Ruairi Deane for McDonnell (53), Rory Maguire for Fahy (57), Sean Walsh for Buckley (57), Conor Corbett (0-1) for Walsh (61).
Meath: Sean Brennan (0-04, 2tpf); Donal Keogan, Sean Rafferty, Seamus Lavin; Sean Coffey, Bryan Menton, Ciaran Caulfield (1-00); Cian McBride, Ronan Ryan; Charlie O’Connor, Jordan Morris (0-02), Ruairi Kinsella (0-05, 2tp, 1f); Mathew Costello (0-01), Eoghan Frayne (0-05, 1tpf, 1tp), James Conlon (0-07, 1tp).
Subs: Jack Flynn for Menton (44), Jack O’Connor for Charlie O’Connor (54), Cathal Hickey for Frayne (57), Aaron Lynch for Conlon (65).
Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare)
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