The mission accomplished to end Cork famine in 1966

It remains one of Cork’s most romantic titles, won without expectation and savoured all the more as a result.

In 1966, the Leesiders had been 12 years without an All-Ireland title, and despite a crop of promising youngsters it didn’t look like their famine would end anytime soon. The county’s best chance of success looked to be their U21 side, which featured Gerald, Charlie and Justin McCarthy, as well as an eye-catching forward from Bride Rovers.

Sean Barry first came to prominence as a dazzling colleges player with St Finbarr’s Farranferris, helping them to the Harty and All-Ireland titles in 1963. His displays were still the stuff of legend a generation later in the school.