Murphy can take a bow for his vision of revamped Páirc

THE GAA people of Cork are a much prouder community this weekend.

And even though its elevated place in Irish sporting life has come at the cost of an estimated €80million, it is fitting this morning to congratulate the county’s long-serving secretary Frank Murphy for his determination and vision in rebuilding Páirc Uí Chaoimh into a spanking new modern stadium.

Murphy (below) has taken enough criticism in his life as a full-time GAA official, and at times he has ruled by the Lee with an iron hand.

But the sheer strength of the man’s convictions will benefit Cork people and its economy, and will also serve Munster and the entire country.

Not all that long ago, Liam Mulvihill and Peter Quinn were being secondguessed for knocking down a ‘falling down’ Croke Park and erecting in its place one of the finest sports stadia in Europe. Croker is now one of the true wonders of this country. And Páirc Uí Chaoimh, as it has shown in hosting the All-Ireland hurling quarter-final between Tipperary and Clare yesterday, and a second ‘quarter’ between Wexford and Waterford this afternoon, is now unquestionably the second greatest investment the GAA has ever made. Enough money has been spent in the last decade in altering and improving county grounds all over the country – stadia that are never filled from the beginning of the year to the end. Enough money has been wasted by too many GAA officials for too long. Frank Murphy is not one of those. And Páirc Uí Chaoimh will not be one of those grounds.