Limerick manager John Kiely was swift to turn his attention to the Munster hurling championship after his team collected their fourth league title during his time in charge.
Kiely's team led for the entirety of Sunday's Division 1A decider, firing the first six points in a row before conceding a bizarre goal when Diarmaid Byrnes' pass across his own goal to a wandering Nickie Quaid was badly under-hit and batted into an empty net by Brian Hayes.
After a rampant Aaron Gillane drilled home a goal after 20 minutes, Limerick were nine in front but proceeded to fade out of the game in the closing stages of the first half and inexplicably only led by three points at the break.
They stayed in front for the duration of the second half; however, Cork were just two adrift heading down the stretch until a late burst of scores for the hosts, Gillane, Gearóid Hegarty and David Reidy floating over vital points.
"I'm delighted to get the result and to get the win, first and foremost," Kiely told RTÉ's Sunday Sport after the game.
"15-20 minutes in, we had done some really, really good work. And we just dropped off a little bit for 10-12 minutes maybe. Cork being the quality side that they are, took advantage straight away.
"So, disappointed with that aspect of it. Composure and control were two of the words I'd use to describe our second half performance against the breeze. I thought our energy was much better as well and more consistent in the second half. The issues we had leading up to half-time, we had addressed."
Kiely wasn't inclined to dwell too long on the achievement of another league triumph and was quick to cast his eyes to their Munster opener. Limerick have a bye in the opening weekend and begin their campaign away to Cork on 26 April.
"All told, just really, really happy to get the result. But that parks the league for us now.
"We've got three weeks to get ready for a championship. We know that what we did today will not be good enough in three weeks' time. We've plenty of appetite for work now for the next two weeks.
"But, listen, we'll enjoy tonight. The boys have put in a good shift over the league and it's over now."
For Cork boss Ben O'Connor, the game was an indicator that his side were "a bit off it yet."
O'Connor, who lost two league finals as a player, in 2002 and 2010, insisted that his side were intent on winning every competition on offer.
Despite purple patches in the lead-up to half-time and in the middle period of the second half, Cork were never ahead at any stage and their bid for back-to-back league titles fell short.
"We started poorly," admitted O'Connor, speaking to Sunday Sport. "We got back into the game before half-time.
"We got a slow enough start to the second half but we got back in again. And then the last 15 minutes, they took over again around the middle of the field.
"They got scores a lot easier than we did, both with and against the breeze. We'll just have to look back on the video and see where we can improve."
Asked what lessons he learned from the performance, O'Connor said: "We're a bit off it yet. Limerick are still a good bit ahead of us and we've a lot of work to do.
"We've a great bunch of fellas but we just have to do a little bit better. The margins are small. Every night that we're inside in training, every fella gives his all.
"We'll get criticised today for that [defeat]. But we'll be back training again tomorrow morning. It's all about Thurles in two weeks' time."
