Cork are through to the All-Ireland SHC quarter-finals after slugging out a 0-20 to 0-17 victory over Clare.
It was an arm-wrestle of a contest in Thurles as both sides traded scores, big hits and more wides than was comfortable for managers Jimmy Barry-Murphy and Davy Fitzgerald.
But the former will take much from the performance of his side, particularly through the final quarter when Cork found a burst of intensity that set them clear.
For the winners, Aidan Walsh was immense, clearing, carrying, blocking and through one play flattening his own player Bill Cooper.
It was indicative of Cork's collective will and while they were too often wasteful they was nothing less than committed.
By the finish, their tally of scores was split between 10 players and the introduction of James Coughlin and Paudie O'Sullivan was significant. Throughout however, Pat Horgan was imperious and Seamus Harnedy industrious.
With the teams so evenly matched the margins were fine, but Tony Kelly showed brilliant flashes for Clare, hitting two inspirational scores in a minute as the Banner got the bit between their teeth in the second-half.
His influence was telling and it appeared as though Clare might now push on but too few around him were operating at the same required level and for all their quality and endeavour, they needed that extra sprinkle.
Shane O'Donnell was always threatening but it was somewhat unusual to see his goal efforts flash wide.
He was always earnest too but then he was being well marshaled by Brian Murphy.
Still his tenacity and that of Darach Honan gave Clare the lead going into the final quarter before Cork spun a thread, that yielded a series of clever frees and block downs that saw them wrest back the balance of power.
Clare needed a goal by now and you wouldn't have bet against O'Donnell popping up to level the game with a goal.
He and Clare would get one last opportunity, but Cork faced down the final charge.
Cork: A Nash; S McDonnell, B Murphy, D Cahalane; C Murphy (0-1), M Ellis, A Walsh (0-1); D Kearney, B Lawton; A Cadogan (0-1), B Cooper (0-1), P Cronin (0-2); C Lehane (0-2), S Harnedy (0-2), P Horgan (0-8, 5f).
Subs: R O’Shea for Kearney (43), J Coughlan (0-1) for Cadogan (50), P O’Sullivan (0-1) for Cronin (58), D McCarthy for Lawton (65).
Clare: P Kelly; D McInerney (0-1), C Dillon, S Morey; B Bugler, P O’Connor, J Browne; Conor Ryan (0-1), Colin Ryan (0-2, 2f); J Conlon, T Kelly (0-5,1f), S Golden (0-1); C McGrath (0-3), S O’Donnell (0-2), D Honan (0-1).
Subs: A Cunningham for Conlon (35), P Donnellan for Colin Ryan (43), C Galvin (0-1) for Golden (48), D Reidy for Morey (57). Conlon for Honan (67).
Ref: B Kelly (Westmeath).