Understrength Cork suffer bout of Johnston jitters

A SOMEWHAT diluted Cork football squad suffered the first setback of their truncated season on Saturday night but coach Conor Counihan will not be rushing James Masters back into action any time soon.

The Nemo Rangers attacker has been given a leave of absence since his club’s All-Ireland final defeat to St Vincent’s and the Cork manager has revealed that it will be “the next couple of weeks” before thoughts even turn to bringing Masters back on board.

If true, that would appear to all but rule the player out of Cork’s last two league matches — against Monaghan at home next Saturday and Armagh the week after when they travel to Crossmaglen.