Kingston and son: If it was a 50-50 call, Shane wasn't getting in

ADDED PRESSURE: Former Cork manager Kieran Kingston and son Shane during the 2021 Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile.

Kieran Kingston has opened up for the first time about the increased 'pressure' on himself and son Shane when both were involved in the Cork hurling setup.

Kingston senior managed Cork for five seasons across two different spells, initially handing his son his debut as a teenager in 2016 before later managing him again between 2020 and 2022.

The 2017 Munster title-winning manager said he could never be accused of 'nepotism' as the reality was that if there was a '50-50 call' to be made over his son, Shane would typically lose out.

The Kingston-led management team made a big call ahead of the 2022 National League final when attacker Shane was dropped from the lineup despite registering 4-21 in five starts beforehand.

On the flipside, the Douglas forward was drafted into the team for the 2021 All-Ireland final against Limerick after a strong showing as a sub in the semi-final.

Kieran, part of Ireland's management team for this Saturday's Hurling/Shinty international against Scotland in Newry, has acknowledged that the father-son relationship was always challenging.

Now that Pat Ryan is in charge of Cork, his predecessor said that 'there's no question it's easier for both' him and his son.

"When you're involved as a manager and you've a son playing, and I could never say this publicly before, it is difficult on him to be fair," said Kingston.

"Firstly, it's difficult on him because he knew when I was going in as manager the first time, even though he made his debut quite young with Mark Coleman, he always knew the rules of engagement so to speak were, 'You have to be performing at the level above the rest. I'm not going to favour you and if it's a 50-50 call, you're not getting it'.

"He knew that, even when I was going back in. Sometimes that works for him, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes it works for me, sometimes it doesn't. It's more pressure on him, no doubt about that.

"And it's more pressure on you as well because obviously the team has to come first, Cork hurling has to come first. Everything else is second and he knows that.

"At the same time, part of you is taking it personally if it doesn't go well for him. He's your son, of course you want him to play. If it's your kids and they're playing a game, you want them to go well.

"You have to keep that over here and compartmentalise that. And I'd like to think I did that well. Certainly one thing I could never be accused of was nepotism!"

Shane, now 26, started four of Cork's six league games this year under new manager Ryan, coming on in the other two matches and returning 1-31 overall. In the Championship, he was introduced as a sub in their first three games before starting against Limerick in the final round.

Under his father last year, Kingston started all but one of Cork's Championship games and registered 2-9 with 4-21 coming in the league.

"I think it's better for him now," continued Kingston. "He has matured, he's a man now. He's not a child anymore. He's established himself at this stage now so I think the freedom is better now for him with Pat and the lads."

Kingston the elder was a mere spectator this year as Cork exited the Championship at the earliest stage despite a series of strong performances. They beat Waterford and then drew with Tipperary but subsequent one-point losses to Clare and eventual All-Ireland winners Limerick consigned them to fourth spot in Munster, ending their campaign.

The two Joe McDonagh Cup finalists, meanwhile, Offaly and Carlow, advanced to the All-Ireland series.

Asked if it would have been fairer to allow Cork and Wexford, who finished fourth in Leinster despite defeating Kilkenny, to advance instead, Kingston nodded.

"I think it would, and I'm being biased on that by what happened in Cork, obviously," he said. "But of course you would. Looking back, if Cork got out of Munster and went on to win the All-Ireland, I'd be saying 'it's great' but given the way the year mapped out, yes, absolutely, you would think that would be a better solution.

"With no disrespect to some teams, you had teams like Cork out of the Championship after four weeks of a season when they would have possibly lit up the Championship if they were involved in it for the next six or eight weeks.

"Not just the team but the following Cork bring as well, the interest in hurling. We saw ourselves when we got to Croke Park, it's second to none. To have Cork involved would have been a huge benefit. Obviously I'm biased towards Cork but (it would help) the GAA in general. To answer your question, yes."

Kingston will reunite with Cork duo Rob Downey and Ger Millerick who are among the seven MacCarthy Cup players on Ireland's Hurling/Shinty panel. Damien Coleman of Galway is manager, Kingston looks after the Munster based players and Antrim's Sambo McNaughton, who Kingston says is 'probably my best friend through the GAA', is over the Ulster contingent.

"There are really lovely lads on the panel who I would have only known as the enemy, trying to negate their influence," said Kingston. "For 70 minutes, they used to be the enemy. Then you meet them and say, 'Jeez, they're really nice lads'. It was a great opportunity."