Cork Masters ready for the new season

NOW in their fourth season, the Cork Masters football team has grown from strength to strength.

With the new campaign only around the corner, everyone involved is excited with what’s in store for the team this season. The Rebels were beaten by Derry in the semi-final of the Dr Mick Loftus Cup last year, which is the top tier. It was the team’s second successive last four exit having lost to London in the Challenge Cup, the fourth tier championship, in 2022.

Speaking at the official launch of the 2024 season at Heineken recently, manager Seán Horgan is looking forward to the campaign ahead.

“It’s a fantastic time to be part of the Cork Masters football team,” he said.

“Since we got this going during Covid-19, it has just gone up and up and the sky really is the limit. We felt there was an opportunity for people over the age of 40 to wear the famous Cork jersey. Last year was the first year the Cork County Board supplied us with jerseys, so that’s significant progress and it has given us an identity.

“Commercial partners have also come on board to sponsor us, so there has been great strides made in this short period of time. We would be extremely hopeful that we would be able to win silverware this year, that’s the next step. But look, I am just delighted that there has been a bye in from everyone. We are getting new players every year but then there’s a recycle when players get to a certain age and decide to retire.” 

Two former Cork footballers are part of the Masters team with a couple of seasons now in the shape of Nicholas Murphy and John Miskella and Horgan says they have raised the standards to another level.

“Both on and off the field, their [Nicholas and John] impact has been stunning,” the Cork Masters football boss said.

“Both players played for a long time with Cork, so they have seen it all really and to have those in our dressing room is huge. Even if they didn’t kick a ball, their experience and leadership is just invaluable. We have players who have been successful with their clubs but weren’t lucky enough to play for Cork and they just look up to those two lads.

“Every player on this Cork Masters football team takes great pride in playing in this set-up. Every player and officer pay their way as its self-funding. There’s such an incredible bond that we have built up in recent seasons. Everyone enjoys it and playing games up the country and weekends away, it’s just great. It helps players in so many ways after their retirement from Cork and their club.” 

The Cork Masters football team will play six games in their respective league which starts in May and depending on where the Leesiders finish in the league, that will dictate which championship they go into as Horgan explains.

“Basically, the league is like a championship, very important,” he says.

“In total, there are 25 teams. The first four in their league go into the semi-finals of the Dr Mick Loftus competition. The next four teams will play in the Shield semi-finals, then the next four play off in the semi-finals of the Plate, then there is a Challenge Cup and finally another four face off in the Spirit Cup competition. The season runs from the second week of May and if you're lucky enough to get into the final, you will be playing until around the middle of September.

“The standard is very high, a lot of former inter-county players are playing for their respective county teams. For example, Aidan O’Mahony is with Kerry, Denis Bastick with Dublin, Paddy Bradley with Derry and Stephen O’Neill with Tyrone and many more. I can’t wait for the season to start and hopefully we can build on what has been a brilliant few years for the Cork Masters football team.” Horgan concluded.