Paul Ryan played a major role in Dublin's qualification for their first Allianz Hurling League Division 1 final since 1946.
Corner forward Ryan notched up 1-08 (0-07f) to steer the Dubs past Cork and into next month’s decider, following Galway's defeat to Waterford this afternoon.
Cork were the only team with nothing to play for on the final day but with their Munster Championship clash with Tipperary on the horizon, Denis Walsh's men were eager for a competitive game.
Both teams lined out as selected at Pairc Ui Chaoimh and as Dublin showed signs of early nerves, the Rebels moved 0-04 to 0-01 ahead by the ninth minute.
John Gardiner landed the opener from 80 metres out and soon added his second, with Ben O'Connor and Cian McCarthy also splitting the posts.
Ryan, the hero in Dublin's drawn game with Tipperary, sandwiched a pointed free in between Cork's early scores and although Cork were having the better of possession, particularly around midfield, they could not pull clear on the scoreboard.
Indeed, with their wides tally mounting and Dublin growing in confidence, Cork's early lead was cancelled out by the 23rd minute. David 'Dotsy' O'Callaghan, the visitors' brightest spark in their attack, and Ryan combined to push Anthony Daly's men into a 0-05 to 0-04 lead.
They were Dublin's only scorers in the opening half - Ryan's four-point tally included three frees - and Daire Plunkett and Ryan O'Dwyer were also causing the Cork defence some problems.
But Cork, who lost midfielder Pa Cronin to an early injury, managed to take a 0-09 to 0-08 lead into the break, with Luke O'Farrell, Kieran 'Fraggy' Murphy, Gardiner and Niall McCarthy rattling off scores. McCarthy's 34th-minute score was the best of the lot, curling in sweetly from a difficult angle.
The 3,778-strong crowd watched Pat Horgan added to Cork's advantage when the second half got underway, but a fine 40th minute goal from Ryan gave Dublin further inspiration.
Plunkett used his pace to dash through the Cork defence and pass for Ryan to rifle home and make it 1-08 to 0-10 to Anthony Daly's side.
Ryan's accuracy from frees continued to hurt Cork and O'Callaghan's ability to create openings, the nippy full-forward finished with six points from play. Tomas Brady cleared a number of balls out of defence as Cork tried to hit back decisively.
The home side mustered a run of scores through Ben O'Connor and McCarthy, levelling the sides at 0-13 to 1-10 - only for wing forward Conal Keaney to become the third player on the Dublin scoresheet.
In the 55th minute, Cork knocked Dublin off their stride when Midleton youngster O'Farrell was given a sight of goal and his low shot beat Gary Maguire. There was no sign of the visitors panicking though, and Ryan and O'Callaghan had Dublin back level within three minutes.
A monster free from Ryan edged the Walsh Cup champions ahead again at 1-14 to 1-13 and the Ballyboden St. Enda's clubman added another from almost 80 metres out near the stand. That was enough of a cushion for Dublin to hold on in a nervy finish.
Their net minder Maguire was yellow carded for a foul on Cork substitute Paudie O'Sullivan, but O'Connor opted to pop the close-in free over the bar for his fourth point of the afternoon.
They saw out the final few minutes, leaving manager Anthony Daly to punch the air at the final whistle.
Dublin finished second in the league table behind Kilkenny, ending their 65-year wait for a Division 1 final appearance. And one thing is for certain, they will relish the prospect of toppling the Cats come 1 May.
