Cork are Munster champions again after recording an exciting 3-9 to 1-14 victory over neighbours Kerry at windy Austin Stack Park.

By collecting their fourth title at this level in five years, the Rebels have eclipsed Kerry on the Roll of Honour - with 26 successes against 25 - as well as sealing an All-Ireland semi-final berth against Ulster champions Monaghan on Saturday week.

Cork cruised through to tonight's provincial showcase with thumping victories over Clare and Waterford while their opponents had struggled in both their previous outings against Tipperary and Limerick. But this game went right down to the wire before substitute Cian Dorgan nailed the winning point in stoppage time.

Having played against the wind, the winners led by three points at the interval - 2-4 to 0-7 - thanks largely to majors from Brian Coakley and Sean Powter - a late addition to their starting XV. Kerry started and finished the half strongest but the Rebel lads were on top in between.

The Kingdom started brightly with points from captain Jack Savage and Ballydonoghue clubman Brian Ó Seanacháin inside the opening minute but Sean Hayes' side settled into their stride and had scores from Ryan Harkin and Coakley (free) before Killian Spillane restored the hosts' advantage.

The Leesiders moved ahead in the eleventh minute when Coakley netted after good approach play from Michael Hurley; Powter - who would leave the field injured soon after - slammed home their second major at the end of a searing run eight minutes later to make it 2-4 to 0-4.

In between those three-pointers, Castlehaven's Hurley and Mallow man Harkin had pointed for the visitors while Savage hit back for Jack O'Connor's men. Trailing by six with eleven minutes left before the break, the Kingdom showed great character to halve the leeway via Savage (two frees) and Eanna O'Connor to leave it all to play for in the second half.

Savage (free) registered his side's fourth successive point immediately upon the restart and Spillane cancelled out a Cork response as the game remained finely balanced. The lead dramatically changed hands again in the 38th minute when one half of the all-Dingle engine-room, Mark O'Connor, pounced for a wonderful Kerry goal.

Savage doubled the gap but Hurley replied to leave the minimum between the sides with 20 minutes remaining, 1-10 to 2-6. With the official attendance of 4,683 captivated by the unfolding action, Savage thumped over a stunning long-ranger but Peter Kelleher hit back instantly as the outcome remained on a knife edge passing the three-quarters mark.

Incredibly, it see-sawed again on 47 minutes when midfielder Sean White (Clonakilty) took a pass from centre back Stephen Cronin (Nemo Rangers) to grab the Rebels' third goal - 3-7 to 1-11. Points were traded and Savage's converted 59th-minute free set up a suitably grandstand finale.

Tony Brosnan tied the scores up on the stroke of full time only for Dorgan to loft over the winning score in the first of four added minutes as the Rebel County garnered their eleventh Munster U21 crown of the millennium. Kerry have won two during the same period.

Cork - A Casey; M McSweeney, J Mullins, D Quinn; K Flahive, S Cronin, K Histon; S White (1-0), S O'Leary; S Powter (1-0), S O'Donoghue (0-1f), R Harkin (0-1); B Coakley (1-2), P Kelleher (0-1), M Hurley (0-2). Subs: S Sherlock (0-1f) for S Powter, D O'Dunin for S O'Donoghue, C Kelly for B Quinn, C Dorgan (0-1) for B Coakley, E Lavers for S O'Leary.

Kerry - E O'Brien; B O Beaglaoich, J Foley, T O'Sullivan; M Flaherty, A Barry, G White; M O'Connor (1-0), B O'Sullivan; B O Seanachain (0-1), M Burns, E O Conchúir; D Roche (0-3), K Spillane (0-2), J Savage (0-6, 4f). Subs: G Horan for B Seanachain, D Foran for M O'Connor, C Coffey (0-1) for B Beaglaoich, J Kiely for E O'Conchuir, T Brosnan (0-1) for D Roche, F Clifford for G White.

Referee - S Lonergan.

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