Roy Keane's presence couldn't inspire the Rebels at Croke Park as Dublin finally got their act together to reach the last four of the championship.
The sight of a laughing Keane in a bright red jacket watching his team drew jeers from the Dubs supporters on Hill 16.
But what Cork would have done in the third quarter for the sort of will to win their county man brought to the big occasion.
While hot favourites to progress to face Kerry or Mayo in the All-Ireland semi-finals, the Dubs never convinced in the first half as they laboured in the absence skipper James McCarthy and top marksman Con O'Callaghan.
The former restored calm to the line-up and the latter brought the kind of clinical edge that it took until the second half for Dublin to bring to this quarter-final.
When they finally brought it, Cork were simply blown away.
Dublin got to grips with Cork's kick-out strategy and all good things flowed for them from there.
Restored to the line-up, Niall Scully were suddenly everywhere while Brian Howard, who was ineffective in a sweeper role in the opening period, began to make an impact.
The pressure came on and the Cork defence buckled, leaving Dean Rock to mop up and he brought his tally to nine frees moments before the merciful release of the final whistle as far as the Rebels were concerned.
Nevertheless Farrell, who will attend today's big showdown between Kerry and Mayo, knows well that this display won't be good enough for the Dubs to make amends for last year's semi-final second half collapse against Mayo and he rated it "6 and a half" himself afterwards.
He can only hope that McCarthy and O'Callaghan make it for Dublin's big concern is how they reverted to type in the first half - just not the type that Dessie Farrell wanted.
The opening 35 minutes was more Blues vintage 2021 than the 2015-20 model that imperiously won the county six All-Irelands on the spin.
Cruising through Leinster with easy victories against Wexford, Meath and Kildare, Dubs fans had hoped that the championship form of last year had been a blip and that normal service had resumed.
Cork initially forgot about the Dubs' status as hot favourites and put it up to them, making it a three point game at half-time as Brian Hurley and Steven Sherlock caused plenty of problems.
And what ensued was almost a complete reversion to the type of performance that caught up with Farrell's men in last year's second half collapse against Mayo.
Dublin didn't lack for possession but while their previous games this summer were notable for a return to a more decisive, clinical attacking game, this was a throwback to a hesitant, loose and disjointed approach.
At the other end and after a slow start, Hurley and Sherlock took advantage of the space they were afforded in the Dubs' full-back line.
Between them, they finished with five points for the opening half while the Dubs largely had Rock (three frees) and Ciaran Kilkenny's two scores from play to thank for maintaining momentum.
But Dublin came back out as if they had been told a few home truths at the break and, while Cork had to come out firing, instead had no answer to the blitz that followed as their opponents went up a couple of gears.
After hitting five six half wides, the Dubs registered none after the interval and that will encourage Farrell. Cork, on the other hand, were left to rue 13 in total.
It was enough to see the Leinster champions into a 13th All-Ireland semi-final in a row, a record that even Keane would have a grudging admiration for.
Dublin: Evan Comerford; Eoin Murchan, Michael Fitzsimons, Lee Gannon (0-2); John Small, Jonny Cooper, Brian Howard; Brian Fenton (0-2), Tom Lahiff (0-1) Niall Scully, Sean Bugler (0-1), Ciaran Kilkenny (0-3); Cormac Costello (0-1), Dean Rock (0-9, 9fs, 1 mark), Paddy Small (0-1).
Replacements: Lorcan O'Dell for Bugler (53), Cian Murphy for Cooper (57), Aaron Byrne (0-1) for P Small (61), Eoghan O'Donnell for Murchan 68), Davy Byrne for J Small (70).
Cork: Micheal Martin; Maurice Shanley, Kevin O'Donovan, Paul Ring; Sean Powter; John Cooper, Rory Maguire, Mattie Taylor; Ian Maguire, Colm O'Callaghan; Eoghan McSweeney (0-1), John O'Rourke (0-1); Cathal O'Mahony (0-3, 2fs), Steven Sherlock (0-3, 2fs), Brian Hurley (0-2).
Replacements: Daniel Dineen for McSweeney (49), Sean Meehan for Ring (49), Brian Hayes for Sherlock (54), Cian Kiely for Cooper (57), Blake Murphy for O'Callaghan 70).
Referee: Sean Hurson (Tyrone)
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