There is a general consensus in sport that you have to experience the defeats before you can fully appreciate the ecstasy of triumph. Cork will know this more than most and after near misses in their last two All-Ireland campaigns, the Rebels are back. But this time they won't just be present at the engagement party and as they prepare to walk down the aisle on the third Sunday in September, Hogan Stand got the views of their ace attacker James Masters. It been a topsy-turvy year for the Nemo Rangers clubman. As expected he tore apart the defences of Limerick and Tipperary en-route to the Munster final but Billy Morgan's charges were unable to repeat the dose against the Kingdom in this year's provincial decider, losing out by the slenderest of margins. Not to worry. The Rebels could still re-enter the All-Ireland race through the back door but even that seemed to be hanging off its hinges at certain stages in the victory over Louth. Although again not at their best when facing a limited Sligo side in the last eight, Cork progressed. But the win came with a severe cost as Masters broke his jaw in the latter stages of the tie, forcing him to sit out a potentially tricky assignment with a rejuvenated Meath outfit. It was predicted by many statute judges that the Royals might have too much firepower in attack but a mean Cork defence gave away very little change and up front, in the absence of Masters, Donnacha O'Connor stood up and was counted as Morgan managed to get a performance of seventy minute substance from his charges. Understandably disappointed at not being able to take part in the action, Masters was forced to take up a watching brief and was delighted with what he saw, in particular the display of his fellow attacker O'Connor who led the forward line with supremacy throughout. "It is important that we do not read too much into the Meath game as it was just one game. Everything went right for us on the day and we were firing on all cylinders. The forwards really stepped up to the mark required and to score 1-16 in an All-Ireland semi-final is some achievement," Masters said. "Before the Meath clash we were just doing enough in the games to get through them. In both the Louth and Sligo games we were entering no win situations as if we had beaten them both by ten points everybody would be saying that it was expected of us to win by that much. "But as we only just managed to get the better of Louth and we didn't play as well as we can against Sligo, we were being knocked but deep down I knew that we could up our performance to a new level if we had to. "In the Meath game our tactics worked fierce well. We changed things a little bit by bringing Michael (Cussen) out the field a bit and leaving Donncadh inside and it worked a treat. Donncadh revelled in the limelight and I was delighted that he played so well. "He is a very unassuming character and it was only three years ago that he was a sub for the Cork junior side but he has worked hard at his game and he is a huge asset to our attack," he added. One of the key components in Cork's impressive championship form has been their tenacious defence which has failed to concede big tallies and Masters was quick to praise their contribution and was in agreement with the majority of pundits who suggested that the Rebels rearguard unit is the best around. "Our defence is probably the key part of our team. I would have no hesitation in saying that it is the strongest defence in the country. They generally don't concede any more than ten points and us in the forwards know that if we can manage to build up a big score we will come out of a game winning. "We are marking these lads in training and when you are up against the likes of Graham Canty, Ger Spillane, Anthony Lynch or anybody else in our defence, you know that you are going to have to fight extra hard for every ball. "And to get that type of a battle in a game is a huge help as when we go out to play in the league or the championship, the chances are that the fella's you'd be marking wont be as tough as the lads that you face in training," Masters remarked. Switching his focus to Kerry, Masters is under no illusions as to the magnitude of the task that lies ahead and acknowledges the quality which the Kingdom possess but also stressed that the underdogs tag which his side will carry into the tie will be to their advantage. "There is no doubt that Kerry will go into the final as favourites and that suits us perfect. We always play better when we are underdogs and we proved that against Meath in the semi-final last year and also when we met the Kingdom in last year's Munster final. "Ourselves and Kerry know each others games inside out and we know exactly what they are capable of. They didn't play as well as they can in the quarter-final against Monaghan but they have improved significantly as the year has progressed and we will need to be at our peak come All-Ireland final day. "A lot of the lads on each team would be friendly with each other and I went to Garda College with Aidan O'Mahony and I get on great with him. Off the field we would be good friends but when we walk onto the pitch that all changes. "They have quality all over the pitch, there is no question about that but I feel we have as well and it will just all come down to the day itself and who performs best. Since the Meath game there has been a spring in everyone's step and I think in some way there was a great relief that we did manage to perform that day," he said. Cork have been recognised as one of the top four of five sides in the country over the last couple of years but Masters sees the forthcoming All-Ireland final as the perfect opportunity for Morgan's troops to prove they have what it takes to make a successful leap onto the main stage. "We have fully concentrated on the final ever since and what's really driving us is the fact that you are nobody's until you win an All-Ireland and we want to prove what a good team we are and we cant do that unless we bring home the Sam Maguire," Masters concluded. Tweet

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