Jimmy Barry-Murphy's managerial teeth were cut with the county's minors from 1993 to 1995, during which time, and showing a steady rate of progress, he failed to get out of Munster ('93), lost an All-Ireland final ('94) and won an All-Ireland final ('95).

As well as honing his talents as a manager, Barry-Murphy sowed the seeds for yesterday's team. Of the '94 team - the side that lost to a Galway team featuring the talents of current seniors Alan Kerins, Peter Huban, Ollie Canning, Kevin Broderick, and Rory Gantley - only Sean O hAilpin features in the current senior team.

However, Barry-Murphy's dividends in '95 were much greater. Included in that Cork team that annihilated Kilkenny 2-10 to 1-2 were Donal Og Cusack (goalkeeper), Sean Og (centre back), Timmy McCarthy (centre forward), Mickey O'Connell (right-half forward), and Joe Deane (full forward). Deane was already a boy wonder, and he chipped in with 1-2 from play that day, while O'Connell showed his capacity for scoring exploits on big-match days with a 1-3 contribution, albeit only a point came from play. Another who also played that day and went on to play for Barry-Murphy's Cork seniors was Sean O'Farrell, who dropped out of the senior picture this season. Barry-Murphy's reaction after the '95 win was not without its element of prophecy. "Ten years is a long time without a minor All-Ireland. It's important in the context of progression and I am satisfied that there are a few seniors in that side."