Cork will face Limerick in next weekend's NHL Division 1 quarter-finals after they outlasted Waterford in an entertaining tussle at Walsh Park this afternoon.
Ben O'Connor decided this play-off game with a late free, with the Newtownshandrum clubman's eighth point confirming Waterford as Tipperary's opponents in the quarter-finals.
Seamus Prendergast's second-minute goal helped the Deise on their way to a 1-14 to 1-12 interval lead, with Cathal Naughton netting for Cork in the 12th-minute.
The visitors then collected a 37th-minute goal from Fintan O’Leary and young Cork midfielder Leigh Desmond caught the eye with four points from play.
Both teams lined out as selected during the week, meaning Cork had Ben O'Connor in to make his first competitive start of the season.
Desmond, a relative newcomer, was partnered in the Cork midfield by debutant Stephen White, a bearded Donal Og Cusack was back in goal and the Rebels also lined out with a new half-back unit in Kevin Hartnett, Eoin Cadogan and Sean Og O'hAilpin.
Patrick Horgan, O'Leary and Naughton filled the full-forward line berths for the visitors.
Waterford had plenty of big hitters in their starting line-up and one of them, Eoin Kelly, had a point on the board within ten seconds of the throw-in.
A minute later, the home side were celebrating a goal as Prendergast gathered a breaking ball and smashed a fine shot past Cusack.
O'Connor opened his and Cork's account with a free from 65 metres out and Horgan closed the gap with two well-struck frees after 3 and 5 minutes.
John Mullane, who has hit the ground running in recent weeks, sliced his way through the Cork defence before slotting an excellent point off his left.
Justin McCarthy's side kept ahead as Mullane and Kelly replied to a Stephen White effort from 20 metres out.
Michael 'Brick' Walsh got in on the scoring act in the 11th-minute, edging Waterford into a 1-05 to 0-04 lead before Naughton swept home his goal.
This was the cue for the Deise to up the tempo and white flags followed from Shane O'Sullivan, Walsh, Prendergast and Eoin McGrath as they moved 1-10 to 1-06 ahead, with O'Connor (free) and Desmond replying for Cork.
Desmond was one of the players of the first half. He hit three points from play, a tally matched by Eoin McGrath at the other end.
Dan Shanahan, who had a quiet first 35 minutes, had the only other goal chance of the half but his stinging shot was well saved by Cusack.
Waterford took in the break with a two-point buffer and owed much to their half-back line of Brian Phelan, Ken McGrath and Jack Kennedy, who defended tigerishly and mopped up well when under pressure.
Prendergast raised a white flag as the Deise opened the second half in determined fashion, but Cork responded brilliantly with O'Leary's goal.
Horgan played the ball in for full-forward O'Leary to sneak a shot through to the net and level the game at 1-15 to 2-12.
The Rebels moved ahead with two O'Connor points and another from the 20-year-old Desmond, and Gerald McCarthy then threw impish attacker Joe Deane into the fray.
Waterford reacted with another Prendergast point and Mullane drew lusty cheers with a spectacular effort from distance.
But, in a fiery finish, Cork held the aces. Kelly did manage to level - at 1-19 to 2-16 - with his fifth point of the afternoon.
However, O'Connor popped his free over to nudge Cork back in front and when Ken McGrath dangled a long range free in towards the Cork square, in injury-time, Prendergast failed to get a clean connection, allowing O'hAilpin to quickly clear the danger.
