Cork 2-22

Galway 0-25

Patrick Horgan was the hero as Cork produced a late surge before 6,118 spectators at Pearse Stadium to retain their top-flight status and condemn Galway to relegation to Division 1B for 2017.

The Glen Rovers sharpshooter fired 1-7, including a brilliant late goal, as the Rebels avenged last month's defeat to the Westerners at the same venue to avoid the dreaded drop. The hosts led by three points before a Seamus Harnedy goal with nine remaining levelled proceedings at 1-21 to 0-24. It remained in the melting pot until Horgan first-timed goalkeeper Anthony Nash's long free to the net for the game's decisive score three minutes from time to give the visitors their only win of the campaign.

With Conor Lehane and Cormac Murphy to the fore, Kieran Kingston's charges opened brightly to lead by 0-9 to 0-4 after 10 minutes. They had extended their advantage to 0-13 to 0-8 before a succession of Joe Canning frees saw the Tribesmen cut the gap to the minimum at half-time, 0-13 to 0-14.

The hosts took the lead for the first time, 0-18 to 0-17, 10 minutes into the second half when Canning converted another free. Niall Burke's third point and further efforts from Padraig Brehony and Canning had them three up, 0-23 to 0-20, with 10 minutes to go.

But just when it seemed their challenge was fading, Cork regained parity when Harnedy fielded a Nash free and squeezed the ball past 'keeper James Skehill for the equalising goal. Lehane and Burke exchanged point as extra-time loomed, but the Rebels weren't prepared to settle for that and Horgan struck late to send Micheal Donoghue's men down.

Cork - A Nash; D Cahalane, S McDonnell, C O'Sullivan; C Murphy, C Joyce, L McLoughlin; W Egan (0-1), D Kearney (0-2); B Lawton (0-2), C Lehane (0-6), B Cooper (0-1); A Cadogan (0-3), S Harnedy (1-0), P Horgan (1-7, 0-3f). Subs: J Cronin for A Cadogan, W Leahy for B Lawton, K Burke for D Kearney.

Galway - J Skehill; D Collins, J Hanbury, P Hoban; A Tuohy, D Burke (0-1), A Harte (0-1); D Glennon, P Brehony (0-1); A Smith (0-1), J Canning (0-13, 11f, 1'65, 1sl), N Burke (0-3); C Whelan (0-1), C Mannion (0-3), J Flynn. Subs: I Tannian (0-1) for A Harte, K Hussey for P Hoban, C Donnellan for J Flynn.

Referee - J McGrath.

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