Now taking over from Denis Walsh, the former dual All-Ireland winner has been given a three-year deal.

His selectors, as part of a strong backroom staff, will be fellow St Finbarr's clubman Ger Cunningham, Johnny Crowley, Kieran Kingston and Seanie McGrath.

McGrath, a selector with the Cork minors for the past two seasons, played under Barry Murphy when Cork lifted the Liam MacCarthy Cup 12 years ago, while Crowley was a selector back then.

Barry Murphy's return to the hot seat may see Seán Óg Ó hAilpín come back out of retirement to challenge for a place in the squad, along with his younger brother Aisake who remains in Australia.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner recently, Barry Murphy accepted the transitional period that Cork are currently in but said he is relishing the task of finding the winning blend from a panel of ever-improving youngsters and much-decorated senior players.

"There's a difficult job ahead because I suppose you have some players who may be reaching the end of their careers, while others are just starting out," he explained.

"The challenge is to blend both of those to get the best out of the team as a whole and I'm looking forward to that.

"Obviously the game has moved on in all sorts of ways since I was last involved back in 2000, but by getting the right people around me in terms of the backroom team I hope not to make the mistakes I made when I took over last time."

He believes that the county's U-21s, who had an epic battle with Limerick in this year's provincial final, could provide the springboard to success in the coming years.

"People might be a bit pessimistic in Cork at the moment but I think there are encouraging signs there," added the 57-year-old.

"In the two last years, for instance, the U-21 hurlers have given some very good performances under Ger Fitzgerald as manager.

"So in that sense there are positive signs for the future and we'll be hoping to build on those going forward."