Derry signed off from Allianz Football League Division 1 with a 2-15 to 1-11 win at Owenbeg as two goals from Enda Lynn saw them past much-changed Cork.

Stephen O'Donoghue lashed low past Eoin McNicholl for an early Cork goal, with the semi-final-bound Rebels leading 1-7 to 0-7 at the break.

But relegated Derry hit back when Mark Lynch teed up Lynn's first goal with 16 minutes left, and he then palmed home his second from a Michael McIver cross.

Table toppers Cork will proceed to a semi-final clash with Donegal and manager Brian Cuthbert will hope that they perform better against the Tír Conaill blanket than they did against Derry's this afternoon.

The Oak Leafers retained the system which had led to widespread debate following their ultra defensive set-up in last weekend's 0-8 to 0-4 defeat by Dublin.

Their half-forward line retreated and played in defence, with 13 coming behind the ball. But, unlike Dublin last time out, Cork pushed up on Derry and pressured them higher up the pitch.

All that served to do was let Derry, and particularly Lynn, off the leash. The Greenlough man, who also netted twice in last year's meeting of the sides at Pairc Úi Rinn, was superb and was rewarded with a haul of 2-3 from play.

The two goals came in the final quarter and rewarded the best performance of the season to date from Brian McIver's side.

They had fallen behind inside a minute to a Daniel Goulding point and that was added to when Donal Óg Hodnett found a gap in the Derry defence and fed O'Donoghue who rifled low into the bottom corner of the net.

Goulding hit a superb score to stretch the lead to the widest it got in Cork's favour, 1-2 to 0-1, but the attacking side of Derry's game was vastly improved and they kept pace with the Rebels.

The first half was score for score, and some of them beauties. Paul Kerrigan, standing still, planted one straight between the posts from 45 yards, while at the other end Kevin Johnston made a 100-yard supporting run and calmly slotted over midway through the half.

Benny Heron ought to have found the net for the hosts on 19 minutes but from Michael McIver's pass, he blasted wide of Ken O'Halloran's goal from 12 yards out.

Heron did make amends with the final score of the half from a '45', however Cuthbert's men still held the aces, leading by three points.

They managed to hold Derry at arm's length in the early throes of the second period, with another stunning score from Kerrigan helping them lead by 1-9 to 0-10 after 45 minutes.

After Eoin Bradley had reduced the gap to a point, Lynch fed a great pass to Lynn and he burst through to lash emphatically into the corner. Full-back Niall Holly surged up-field to add to the home lead. Then, on the hour mark, Lynn combined with Michael McIver and finished off the Ballinderry man's cross to put Derry 2-12 to 1-9 ahead.

Cork threatened to rally and Brian Hurley had a chance but, with Oisin Duffy pressurising, his shot was well saved at the near post by goalkeeper McNicholl. That was as close as they came to clawing it back, with a late score from John O'Rourke and a Colm O'Neill free mere consolation.

It was not enough to save Cork from their second defeat of the seven-match campaign and victory was not enough to save Derry from being relegated alongside their neighbours Tyrone.

DERRY: E McNicholl; O Duffy, N Holly (0-1), K Johnston (0-1); L McGoldrick, C McAtamney, M McIver; M Lynch (0-2, 0-2f), F Doherty; SL McGoldrick, D Heavron, E Lynn (2-3); B Heron (0-3, 0-1 '45'), T O’Brien, J Kielt (0-2, 0-2f).

Subs used: Eoin Bradley (0-2, 0-1f) for O'Brien (40 mins), E McGuckin (0-1) for Kielt (52), M Sweeney for Holly, Emmet Bradley for Doherty (both 56), A McAlynn for L McGoldrick (60), C Murphy for Lynn (65).

CORK: K O’Halloran; N Galvin, M Shields, D Óg Hodnett; Tomás Clancy, S O'Donoghue (1-0), C Dorman (0-1); K O’Driscoll, P Kelly; J O’Rourke (0-1), M Collins (0-1), B O’Driscoll; D Goulding (0-3), P Kerrigan (0-3), J Hayes (0-1, 0-1f).

Subs used: F Goold for Kelly (30 mins), P O'Shea for O'Halloran (half-time), J Loughery for Galvin (45), B Hurley for Goulding, C O'Neill (0-1, 0-1f) for Hayes (both 57), C O'Driscoll for O'Donoghue (59).

Referee: Cormac Reilly (Meath).