Shane Kingston and Conor Lehane 'representing Cork the best way they know how'

The pair continue to pack a punch as much as they have both had a quiet season up to the Munster final.

Tue, 10 Jun, 2025 - 06:51

John Fogarty

“I suppose it’s nothing I’m not used to at this stage,” offered Shane Kingston with a wry smile about trying to make an impact from the bench as he did on Saturday.

Three points and a goal in the penalty shoot-out was fair clipping as was Conor Lehane’s brace, the free he won that Darragh Fitzgibbon sent over in extra-time and of course one of the other two penalties converted by Cork.

The pair continue to pack a punch as much as they have both had a quiet season up to the Munster final. A pulled hamstring impacted Kingston’s starting chances last year.

His galivanting solo earned Patrick Horgan the game-changing penalty goal against Limerick in Cork 13 months ago. He picked off two points from the bench in the All-Ireland final but had been brought on and replaced in the semi-final.

This year, his ailment has been a groin issue whereas a dislocated shoulder in February’s Division 1A draw with Limerick stopped Lehane in his tracks.

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Recalled to the panel in 2023, he might not be as acquainted with the cameo role as much as Kingston but is growing into it.

“Sure look, that's the nature of the game. You wouldn't be involved unless you didn't know that going into it. I have no issue. With the talent that's there, representing Cork the best way they know how.

"They've done themselves justice numerous times. It's healthy competition.”

Kingston’s contribution had shades of his seven points coming off the bench against Kilkenny in the 2021 All-Ireland semi-final.

"I was actually wearing the same number (23), so it's becoming a bit of a thing now.

“Any day you're not in the starting 15 is obviously disappointing. The management put out their best team on any given day, so you just have to stop feeling sorry for yourself and focus on getting the best out of yourself if you're fortunate to be called upon.

“It's just about coming on and running relentlessly, hoping you get on that ball. For the first five, 10 minutes I didn't touch anything and then I got a ball in from Robbie [O’Flynn] and I just said I'd take it on because the boys were after playing 65, 70 minutes so I knew they'd be tired."

Cork 's Eoin Downey and Conor Lehane celebrate after the penalty shoot out against Limerick. Pic: Eddie O'Hare.

Kingston’s penalty hit wasn’t the cleanest. But for it taking an unusual bounce in front of Nickie Quaid, it mightn’t have passed the Limerick goalkeeper.

“It was a bad strike too but it went in, so I was lucky,” admitted the Douglas man.

"I think Pat came up to me and said, 'Do you want to hit one?' and I said, 'Yeah, absolutely.' Obviously, the confidence was high so I just said I had nothing to lose so I just drove on. From then on, I was just thinking I was going to score and that was kind of it, really.

“I suppose if I wasn't playing well I probably would have been a bit more hesitant hitting it. But confidence was high at the time. As soon as I knew I was hitting one, I just focused on scoring it. I just got the pick and it went in then."

Lehane sure felt the tension as he stood up to his strike.

“You'd rather not be in too many of those situations. But when it comes out the better end for you, it's the best feeling in the world. Hopefully it's the last I'll ever do as well.

"It was nerve-wracking alright. Nearly got to zone in, hit it as hard as you can and hope for the best.”

Both men are complimentary of the value the other gave to Cork at the weekend.

“Shane was unbelievable,” says 32-year-old Lehane of 27-year-old Kingston.

“He's lethal in general. Look, sometimes the ball will go for you and then other times the donkey work that someone might do that you mightn't see that has a huge impact on the game, can happen too.”

Kingston remarked of his team-mate from Midleton: “Lehane came on the last day (v Waterford) as well and got a lovely point. He was lifting there when he came on. He's been showing that in training as well.

"Having trained well over the last couple of weeks, it's nice to get the recognition."