1976: The year Cork opened Páirc Uí Chaoimh and crowned it with a couple of All-Irelands

There are years that don’t just pass through a county’s sporting history but turn it. For Cork, 1976 was one of those years.

Now 50 years on, the opening of Páirc Uí Chaoimh on June 6 was the beginning of a new era on Leeside.

The blessing was performed by Bishop Con Lucey, while the late Con Murphy, recently elected president of the GAA and a driving force behind the project, carried out the official opening.

It was civic pride as much as sporting ambition. Cork now had a home befitting its stature in the GAA. All it needed now was an All-Ireland to top it off, and that very September supplied it.

Cork’s senior hurlers, after an exceptional campaign and brilliant showing in the final against Wexford, hauled the Liam MacCarthy Cup back to the Rebel County for the first time since 1970.

Eight points down after just six minutes of the contest, the Leesiders clawed back into contention with Pat Moylan steady from range. A goal from Ray Cummins had Cork level by the interval.

The tense battle continued in the second half, Charlie McCarthy and Tony Doran exchanging goals, before Cork moved Jimmy Barry-Murphy to centre-forward.

And of course, Jimmy delivered.

He reeled off three points in a blur. And when Moylan slotted over the insurance score, Cork had made 1976 even sweeter.

Even then, that result did not stand alone. Two weeks later, the U21s upset Kilkenny to complete a hurling double, Cork’s first since that 1970 season. That achievement still, to this day, remains the Rebels’ most recent U20/21 and senior hurling double.

Half a century later, Páirc Uí Chaoimh has been rebuilt and silverware has continued to arrive and depart, but it remains the sacred home of the blood and bandage.