Kieran Kingston

Kieran Kingston (born 1963) is an Irish hurling manager and former player. He has been the manager of the Cork senior team since 2015.^[1][2][3]

Born in Minane Bridge, County Cork, Kingston was introduced to hurling in his youth. He first came to prominence at colleges level with St Finbarr's College while simultaneously enjoying some successes at underage levels with the Tracton club. A divisional championship medallist in the junior grade, Kingston was also a one-time championship medallist in the intermediate grade.

Kingston made his debut on the inter-county scene at the age of twenty when he first linked up with the Cork under-21 team. He enjoyed little success in this grade. Kingston made his senior debut during the 1984-85 National Hurling League. He went on to play a bit part for Cork in defence and midfield, and won one All-Ireland medal on the field of play.

After being involved in team management and coaching in all grades at club level with Tracton, Kingston served as coach and selector with the Cork senior team under Jimmy Barry-Murphy. It was announced that he would be the new Cork senior hurling team manager on 10 October 2015.

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.^[4]

Inter-county

Having never played minor hurling, Kingston first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Cork under-21 hurling team. He made his debut in a drawn game against Waterford on 20 April 1983, however, he enjoyed little success during his two seasons on the panel.

Kingston made his senior debut for Cork in a National Hurling League game against Offaly in 1984 and was a regular during that campaign. He made his championship debut against Galway in a 4-12 to 5-5 All-Ireland semi-final defeat on 4 August 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.^[5] 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. In October 2015, Kingston was appointed as the new Cork hurling manager for a two year term after the departure of Jimmy Barry-Murphy.^[6]

References