THERE is plenty of West Cork involvement in the Cork football masters team that will face London in the All-Ireland semi-final this Saturday (2pm) in Annanough GAA club at Vicarstown in Laois.

The local players involved are St Oliver Plunkett’s John Paul O’Driscoll, Bandon’s Conor Sugrue, Flor Crowley from O’Donovan Rossa, Flor O’Sullivan of Goleen and Urhan man Flor Harrington.

Galway and Antrim face off on the other side of the draw.

The Cork masters have called upon the likes of 2010 All-Ireland winners Pearse O’Neill, Nicholas Murphy and John Miskella in the last couple of years, but this trio all have club commitments this year.

For Skibbereen man Flor Crowley, this has been an enjoyable experience.

‘When we were in our 20s, winning in Gaelic football was the be all and end all. Win a game and you’re happy for the week. Lose a game and you’re down for the week. Now, with families, kids and other commitments, you just enjoy the day you have and for the 60 minutes you are still able to play,’ Crowley told this week’s Star Sport Podcast.

‘After the game, it’s about enjoying each other’s company. Going for somewhere to eat after. Our manager Tony Leahy has the vibe right. He has the experience and the pedigree. The training is enjoyable, being all ball work.’

There are those who make a big effort to play, too, with Urhan’s Flor Harrington being a prime example.

‘Flor Harrington makes the long trip from Beara. He’s our wise head, our football sage. We had a challenge game last week and he captained the side. We won that game so he has a 100 percent record. It would be great to have more players involved,’ Crowley explained.

‘I’m lucky to be based in the city. It’s not a massive commitment for me to make training. Flor O’Sullivan from Goleen is too, but it would be great to have more. If anyone is interested, get onto us. It would be great to have more involved.’

Cork beat Laois 3-13 to 1-9 in the quarter-final, while also defeating the likes of Clare, Leitrim/Longford along the way. They narrowly lost to Kerry and Limerick too.

The masters GAA competitions are for over-40s and play under the old rules with unlimited subs. It’s an age group that has the likes of Bernard and Alan Brogan lining out for Dublin and Stephen O’Neill for Tyrone.

The Cork boss this year is St Finbarr’s man Tony Leahy, who led the Cork U21s to the All-Ireland title in 2007, with secretary Sean Horgan doing a bit of coaching too.

‘The pleasure I’m getting out of it is unreal,’ Leahy explained.

‘We have a panel of 28 and get them all together. You start with one team and then you interject with subs. Each lad gives their ten minutes and when you’re tired, they put their hand up and we’ll get someone else to come in. It’s not a case of if you don’t start, you’re not the best player in the team. It’s about trying to manage it.

‘We’re on the right trajectory. We have lost games by a point or two but it was all our own undoing. All I can say is onwards and upwards.’

The Cork masters football squad includes Cian Conway (Buttevant), Will Sliney (Russell Rovers), Aidan Corkery (Donoughmore), Tom Sheahan (Ballyclough), Niall O’Keeffe (Russell Rovers), Brian O’Regan (Kinsale), Denis O’Mahoney (Grenagh), Eoin Weldon (Nemo Rangers), Kevin Mullins (Mitchelstown), Brian Twomey (Nemo Rangers), John Paul O’Driscoll (St Oliver Plunkett’s), Tom Kenneally (Araglen), Thomas Fehan (Liscarroll Churchtown Gaels), Jerry Kerins (Nemo Rangers), Brian Dennehy (Russell Rovers), Paddy O’Keeffe (St John’s), Kieran Stone (Nemo Rangers), Conor O’Keeffe (Lyre), John O’Keeffe (Nemo Rangers), Diarmuid Lynch (Mitchelstown), Ger O’Neill (Glanworth), Conor Sugrue (Bandon), Stephen Feeney (Nemo Rangers), Flor Crowley (O’Donovan Rossa), Tadhg Lyons (Nemo Rangers), Flor Harrington (Urhan), Paudie Cahill (Glenville), Flor O’Sullivan (Goleen), Neil Corkery (St John’s) and Danny Kiely (Ballyphehane).