Kieran Kingston

Kieran Kingston (born 1963) is an Irish retired hurler who played as a right corner-back for the Cork senior team.

Kingston made his first appearance for the team during the 1984-85 National Hurling League and was a regular member of the starting fifteen until he left the panel after the 1989 championship. During that time he won one All-Ireland medal on the field of play. He also won two Munster medals as a non-playing substitute.

At club level Kingston is a county intermediate championship medalist with Tracton.

In retirement from inter-county hurling Kingston became involved in team management and coaching. He was heavily involved in coaching with his own club in Tracton before being named as a selector with the Cork senior hurling team in 2011.

Playing career

Club

Kingston played his club hurling with Tracton and enjoyed much success during a lengthy career.

Having lost the championship decider to St. Finbarr's in the intermediate grade in 1990, Tracton reached the final for a second consecutive year in 1991. A narrow 4-14 to 5-9 defeat of Inniscarra gave Kingston an intermediate championship medal.^[1]

Inter-county

Kingston first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork under-21 hurling team, however, he enjoyed little success during his two seasons on the panel.

He made his senior debut for Cork in a National League game against Offaly in 1984 and was a regular during that campaign. He made his championship debut against Galway in an All-Ireland semi-final defeat in 1985.

In 1986 Cork reached the All-Ireland final with Galway providing the opposition. Kingston, who had played no part in the championship up that point was introduced as a substitute. The men from the west were the red-hot favourites against a Cork team in decline, however, on the day a different story unfolded. Four Cork goals, one from John Fenton, two from Tomás Mulcahy and one from Kevin Hennessy, stymied the Galway attack and helped "the Rebels" to a 4-13 to 2-15 victory.^[2] The win gave Kingston a coveted All-Ireland medal.

Kingston was a regular member of the starting fifteen over the next three seasons, however, Cork faced early exits from the championship. He left the panel after the 1989 championship.

Managerial career

Tracton

Kingston has been heavily involved in coaching at all levels with Tracton over many years. In 2010 he was manager of the club's top team as Tracton reached the final of the intermediate championship. Ballymartle were the winners on that occasion on a scoreline of 2-13 to 0-11.

Cork

In 2011 Kingston was appointed as a selector to the Cork senior hurling team as part of Jimmy Barry-Murphy's management team.^[3]

References