Back injury rules Cork star Masters out until March

CORK’S James Masters won’t return to football until March due to a persistent back injury.

The Nemo Rangers attacker has yet to play this season and will miss the Division Two clash away to Kildare on Sunday. Yet Cork will have a three week break after Sunday’s game before they have four League games scheduled for March and Cork selector Ger O’Sullivan is hopeful Masters will have recovered by then.

Said O’Sullivan: “The injury is not very serious, but it is a slow recovery period. We hoped he’d be okay for Sunday but that’s not going to happen.

“But we’re not going to rush him. The benefit for us this year is that we have a very strong panel. We don’t want to risk anyone who is not 100% fit. This also gives other players a chance to stake a claim.”

Long-serving midfielder Nicholas Murphy, who has yet to feature for Cork in the 2009 campaign, is also a doubt for Sunday’s match. Murphy has been suffering from a shoulder injury and a decision will be made on his fitness later in the week. The Cork management also have doubts over defenders Noel O’Donovan and Noel O’Leary. Both players were withdrawn early in the second-half of Cork’s opening league win against Meath with hamstring problems.

Meanwhile, Clyda Rovers defender Paudie Kissane has rejoined the panel, and played in a challenge match win over Tipperary — his first county outing since breaking his forearm in last year’s Munster SFC semi-final against Limerick.

Cork defeated Tipperary comfortably in that challenge game and after also experimenting last Wednesday night in a challenge match against CIT, Conor Counihan and his selectors have now finalised their panel for the National League. Having fielded a development team throughout the McGrath Cup, three newcomers have been rewarded with places in this year’s league panel. O’Donovan, who previously featured for Cork under Larry Tompkins regime, along with Ray Carey and Paul O’Flynn, have all received call-ups.

The selectors are set to continue to monitor the progress of a number of players outside of the panel in the coming weeks, particularly those who will be featuring in the Sigerson Cup and for the Cork U21’s who face Kerry in the Munster championship quarter-final on March 14. Amongst those outside the panel who will also be considered is former Carlton player Aisake Ó hAilpín after the Na Piarsaigh man played against CIT.