Rejuvenated Masters happy to be back in harness for Rebels

AFTER completing a fabled four-in-a-row of Cork county titles, Nemo Rangers’ provincial campaign came to a shuddering halt last November.

Unheralded Limerick champions Drom-Broadford toppled them in the Munster final and left the vanquished with acute pangs of regret. At the time the defeat was difficult to accept, but hindsight has lead James Masters to adopt a different view.

“It was probably nice to have a break to be perfectly honest about it. For four or five years there with Nemo you were going all year, you didn’t have the four or five months off in winter to take your break and recharge. It’s a great complaint but it means you are constantly going at the one level, about 70% whereas other players can ease off a bit over the winter and then push on in the new year towards championship.”

The winter hiatus allowed Masters the time to cure a nagging back injury which had impeded his involvement with the Cork seniors last season. After missing the early stages of the league, he has come right to fit into the full-forward spot as Cork make their championship bow against Waterford tomorrow.

“Last year was a frustrating one in terms of injuries, but when I did get a chance I didn’t play well. Any time I wasn’t in the team I didn’t deserve to be because Conor (Counihan, Cork manager) goes on form. But that’s great though because you know if you perform in training you will be playing.”

Last season he flitted between the playmaker posting at number 11 and the sharpshooter role inside, yet this spring has seen him afforded the chance to pin down a spot close to goal.

“I’m more comfortable in the full-forward line. I’ll play anywhere of course but I’m probably better inside. Maybe if I was out centre-forward for a longer term I might get used to it, but it’s just difficult when you’ve been inside for so long. It’s not just about getting on the ball, you’ve to track the opposition centre-back as well.

“I’m not great in the air but Donncha (O’Connor) and Danny (Goulding) can be and I’m working on it all the time playing full-forward. We played Galway last week in a challenge and there was plenty of high ball coming in and Donncha was laying down a few and I was laying down a few. It’s not just about pumping it in, it’s about the right diagonal ball and that gives us another option then.”

Masters is starting to regain his fitness and form at a time when the Cork team is surfing a rising tide of optimism.

“People are maybe looking to us more this year. We’ve a good squad and the preparation has been first class. The first game is always the hardest because you’ve new players in and there are nerves, but we have to be positive now against Waterford. I think we’re at the stage where we should be getting over any team that’s in our way if we want to win an All-Ireland.”