At half-time, Kilkenny were comfortably ahead by seven points, 4-3 to 1-5, but they were held to just two points in the second half before Dormer's decisive intervention.

Kilkenny were simply rampant in the opening half as Denise Gaul ghosted in unmarked behind the Cork defence after just nine minutes for the game's opening goal.

Claire Aylward, who top-scored for Kilkenny with 2-3, added a second goal after 16 minutes before Lucinda Gahan supplied a third six minutes before the break.

Niamh Dilworth replied with a crucial Cork goal in the 25th minute but just a minute later, Aylward was on target again for Kilkenny's fourth major.

Cork opened the second half with a brace of points before Denise Gaul replied with a Kilkenny score to keep the winners firmly in control of proceedings.

However, Cork simply took over and in a 17-minute spell which began six minutes after half-time, the Rebelettes scored six points without reply to level the game at 1-13 to 4-4.

Anne Marie Phelan edged Kilkenny ahead in front again with a free five minutes from time before Michelle Browne hit back with an equalising score for Cork as the game reached a gripping conclusion.

Browne was impeccable for Cork with 0-9 from placed balls but with a minute remaining, a well-struck effort drifted narrowly wide and Kilkenny were buoyed by this let-off.

In stoppage time, Dormer grabbed a long-range free on the edge of the square, turned and finished the ball to the net for the winner.

Cork could scarcely believe it after dominating the second half and in terms of actual scores, they overshadowed Kilkenny 15-10.

However, goals win matches and four in the opening half provided the platform for another notable Kilkenny victory in 2008, following on from the Senior National League and All-Ireland Minor successes.