Billy Morgan has called on Conor Counihan to reinstate James Masters to the Cork football squad.

Masters was a key forward for Cork during fellow Nemo Rangers man Morgan's last spell as manager, but called time on his inter-county career last March at the age of 27 after falling out of favour with current boss Counihan.

And Morgan claims he was told by a current Cork selector that the county will not win an All-Ireland title without the services of Masters.

"One of the current Cork selectors said to me that Cork will not win an All-Ireland without James Masters," said Morgan who was yesterday being inducted into the MBNA Kick Fada Hall of Fame.

"I'm very sorry that he's not there because he's still one of the best forwards in the country, but he wasn't treated too well."

Morgan did not expand on which of the selectors - Ger Sullivan, Jim Nolan, Peadar Healy or Terry O'Neill - is supposed to have made those comments, but he was keeping his fingers crossed for two of his former charges in particular.

"Personally, I would be thrilled for Graham (Canty) and Nicholas (Murphy). Nicholas has played in three finals, Graham in two. There is also Anthony Lynch, but I don't think he is going to be fit for the final.

"They have been great servants to Cork football. To work with them was a pleasure as regards training and preparation. They would do everything within their power to be right for a game. For them in particular, I would like to see them win an All-Ireland."

The former All-Ireland winning manager and captain believes Counihan should pick the strongest team at his disposal from the start against either Down or Kildare in next month's Sam Maguire decider.

"Personally, I would pick the best team from the start and go at the opposition from the start. Nicholas has a back injury that so he mightn't last 70 minutes but I would like to see him start, play 40 or 50 minutes, and if he can't go any further then, he has to come off.

"But I would prefer to see Cork start with their best 15 and take it from there. Eoin Cadogan is a fine player. When he came on last Sunday, he did very well. He now has four weeks' football between and the final to prepare. I would be playing him and, if Graham is fit, I would have the two of them in our defence. But it's up to the selectors." Tweet

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