Barry-Murphy took the reins at Cardiff during a difficult period for the club after their first relegation to the third tier in 22 years.
The former Rochdale manager exceeded the average 277-day tenure of his predecessors by March of this year, when the Bluebirds were second in League One.
And like Warnock he delivered a promotion, although his came in the first season, to get Cardiff back into the Championship at the first attempt.
By winning 34 of his 62 games in charge of the Bluebirds thus far, Barry-Murphy has achieved that goal more often than not.
Average attendances for home games increased in League One – despite relegation the previous season – and will likely do so again this campaign.
The emergence of several talented youngsters and the style of play adopted during his spell has rejuvenated the feeling among Cardiff fans.
And after three draws and a defeat to start the campaign, the question now is whether he can maintain the positive feeling in the Championship.
Barry-Murphy is confident of it, even after a quiet transfer deadline day, during which Cardiff were unable to sign the targets their head coach wanted.
Many fans have voiced their concern about a lack of squad depth, with only four players recruited at the Cardiff City Stadium this summer.
But Barry-Murphy feels he has been backed in the transfer window and is pleased with the players at his disposal for a gruelling Championship season.
There would be no better way for the Irishman to mark his latest Bluebirds achievement than to claim his first Championship win on Saturday.
