Cork manager Denis Walsh dubbed it 'a fair result' as Waterford’s Eoin Kelly pointed a late free to ensure a draw between these Munster heavyweights at Walsh Park.

The stalemate saw Cork extend their unbeaten run in this year's National League to four games and keep themselves at the top of the Division 1 table.

Kelly’s injury-time score took his tally to 1-16, just minutes after Ben O’Connor’s eighth point has nosed Cork ahead again.

Towering full-forward Michael Cussen claimed two goals as the Rebels built a 2-9 to 1-9 interval lead.

But Thomas Ryan netted as the Deise closed the gap and it was nip and tuck right to the finish.

Davy Fitzgerald's Waterford side are in fourth place after this result, which comes on the back of last weekend's win over Limerick.

O'Connor and Kelly both got off the mark early on, but Cork edged ahead when captain Kieran Murphy broke away from two Waterford defenders and teed up Cussen for a flicked finish to the net from an acute angle.

By the quarter-hour mark, the Rebels, with the wind behind them, had built a 1-4 to 0-2 with Cussen tagging on a point for good measure.

But Waterford grabbed their first goal soon after when Kelly floated a long delivery in from 60 yards out, Cork goalkeeper Anthony Nash failed to gather it under pressure from Shane Walsh and the ball flew straight into the net.

Cork responded with Cussen's second goal as the intensity increased and the pace quickened. The former footballer took his tally to 2-2 with another angled finish in the 25th minute.

Cathal Naughton fired over a monster point from close to the sideline but Kelly knocked over two frees in the closing minutes of the half, putting just a goal between the sides at the turnaround.

The second half saw experienced net minder Donal Og Cusack come into the fray, replacing the injured Nash, and Cork hit the ground running again with a quick 1-1.

Ben O'Connor struck the opening point before Pat Horgan danced his way through the Waterford rearguard and cracked a low shot beyond the reach of goalkeeper Clinton Hennessy.

Waterford looked in trouble but with substitutes Maurice Shanahan and John Mullane coming to the fore and Kelly in dead-eye form, they kept in touch.

Points from Naughton and Horgan added some cushion for Cork, but the Deise broke through for a timely goal, eight minutes from the finish, when corner forward Ryan's ground shot beat Cusack.

Waterford, who had hit 11 wides by that stage, were suddenly ahead when Kelly hit two frees in quick succession. Tom Kenny pointed Cork level and Naughton was fouled after a trademark solo run to set up O'Connor's lead point.

However, Cork had to settle for a draw after Mullane was fouled in possession and Kelly stepped up to coolly slot the free over and bring a thrilling game to a close.