Originally posted by ollscoil:
Neither Cussen or Masters are significant losses to the Cork panel. Cussen IMO should have had a greater role last year and I`d still have him on the panel but I wouldn`t think Masters offers anything at all. In reality they have lost an impact sub   (Cussen  )   and a non-playing sub   (Masters  )  . Kerry are in a slightly different position in that Kennelly, Dara and Walsh are all major losses but they have the talent to ensure those players aren`t as badly missed as they would be in other counties. Can`t see them winning Sam though, not this year.

Originally posted by The referee:


The indo today says James Masters has left the cork football panel frustrated at the lack of game time. Cussen jumped ship to the hurlers and i suspect lack of game time was an issue with him too. Cork have plenty of talent and young talent but are they that good that they can afford to be without, Masters and Cussen.

Their friends in kerry have panel departures too!! Ger Reidy last years number 2 goalie has left the panel to focus on studies. was in the shake up to take Diarmaid Murphy`s place. In 12 less than months -Murphy, Dara, Kenneally, Walsh, Reidy, Sean O`Sullivan, Mike Frank and Eoin Brosnan have left the panel for various reasons. plenty of opportunity for the younger brigade in kerry now.

Originally posted by The referee:
i d nearly agree with u in full.

As a Kerryman on Hill 16 watching the all ireland final in the company of fellow countymen, we were scratching our heads in bewilderment as to why Cussen was brought on so late and then when he was that he wasnt brought on at full forward rather than out the field. we kept expecting to see him on any minute from half time onwards.

Originally posted by ollscoil:
Jesus DAF, Cussen isn`t next nor near being one of the best full forwards in Ireland. Stephen O`Neill, Micheal Meehan, Paddy Bradley, Colm O`Neill, Ronan Clarke and Sheridan   (for a start  )   are all in a different league to Cussen.

As for Masters, Billy built the team around him because he didn`t have much else. Counihan probably has 9 top quality players looking for one of six jerseys, and there is another two future superstars about to join them. Masters wouldn`t make any of the top teams starting 15 as he can`t win his own ball and hasn`t the pace for IC football. If you look at his recent scoring record he did damage against the weaker teams but rarely made an impression against the big guns. Cork don`t need players who`ll get 1-6 against Tipp they need lads who`ll get 0-3 against a Tyrone or Kerry on September afternoons in an explosive, claustrophobic CP.

Originally posted by Come What May:
I`d like to thank James Masters for all the commitment that he put into the Cork team over the years.
Top scorer in Ireland a few years. James was also a great free taker.
I think Masters should have been starting instead of Donncha O` Connor last year. Although Masters has gone back a bit the last few years, he would still score all the frees and 45s.
During Cork`s matches last year, especially in the All-Ireland Final Cork missed a load of scoreable frees and 45s. Masters would have scored these and Cork might have won. I say about 5 frees were missed that shouldn`t have been missed. I think Cork lost by 5 points.
Masters could still return I say though, he is still young enough. He would be welcomed back by me anyway.

Originally posted by glasandbán:
I was surprised at this too. Injuries can set a player back but how can a player go from carrying the 6 cork forwards in Morgan`s time to being surplus to requirements, he`s only 27 for gods sake, it seems to me Counihan decided early on that Masters wasn`t for him and didn`t fit into the team he was building.

Pity cause I think Cork need to develop their game a bit more. The reliance on handpassing apart from being bad to watch was ripped apart by Kerry last year and any team good enough to get to the All Ireland final will be capable of doing the same if Cork don`t vary their gameplan.

Originally posted by seanie:
we must be full of top class forwards in cork?? sure obvioulsy we dont need a free taker or a centre froward   (masters best position  )  , terrible indictment of management who have treated masters like s**e - taking him off last year before half time in killarney and bringing him on in injury time against galway last weekend.
not the fastest for sure but if anyone could show me another cork forward who could have scored the `drop   goal` last year against monaghan id like to know.
and you could be right ref a fine hurler and definately good enough for cork intermeidates consdiering they willl have a new team this year

Originally posted by seanie:
we must be full of top class forwards in cork?? sure obvioulsy we dont need a free taker or a centre froward   (masters best position  )  , terrible indictment of management who have treated masters like s**e - taking him off last year before half time in killarney and bringing him on in injury time against galway last weekend.
not the fastest for sure but if anyone could show me another cork forward who could have scored the `drop   goal` last year against monaghan id like to know.
and you could be right ref a fine hurler and definately good enough for cork intermeidates consdiering they willl have a new team this year

Originally posted by ollscoil:
He wasn`t Maurice Fitz with teh frees either lads, anyone who thinks Masters is worth a starting place on that Cork team simply doesn`t know their football. I could see him at center forward for Nemo but not a chance for Cork. By all accounts he is a very decent guy but that doesn`t take away from the fact that he can`t cut it against the likes of Tyrone or Kerry.