Cork v Limerick: Shane Kingston relishing another run at the champions

When Aidan O’Connor pointed for Limerick against Cork late in May’s Munster SHC clash at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, it put the Shannonsiders ahead by two points, 3-26 to 2-27.

While Cork, needing to avoid defeat to keep their season alive, had played very well, it looked as if the All-Ireland champions had won it thanks to a trademark late surge.

Still, there was time for Cork to salvage something. A superb puckout from goalkeeper Patrick Collins found Shane Kingston on the run. The sub had energy in his legs and kept going, until he was hauled down by Kyle Hayes – enough to warrant a black card and a penalty in the eyes of referee Seán Stack.

Patrick Horgan drilled the ball to the net, Brian Hayes added a clincher and Cork stayed alive. Three more wins have brought them to the All-Ireland semi-finals and Sunday’s re-match with the champions in Croke Park (4pm).

Given that there was time to get two scores, did Kingston consider tapping over a point in the hope that Cork might get another to level? There wasn’t that much time to think about it.

“I was just happy the hamstring held up,” he laughed, “it was still early days then!

“Thankfully, we got a penalty and got the win on the day. It was a brilliant result.

“I think when I got the ball there wasn’t really a chance for goal, to be honest.

“I don’t know, I just put the head down and I ran. Things opened up so I just kept running.

“It all kind of happened in a matter of seconds. I wasn’t really thinking at the time and if I was, it wouldn’t have turned out the way it did. It was instinct really, to be honest.”

Now, the challenge is to beat Limerick all over again, at a stadium where they have not lost since the 2019 All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Kilkenny. While Cork did beat the Cats at the penultimate stage in 2021, that is the county’s only win there since 2013. That run has included defeats to Limerick in the semi-final of 2018 and the final of 2021.

“Yeah, it’s a lonely old spot all right [when you lose],” said Kingston, speaking at eir HSQ.

“We lost there in 2017, lost there in ’18, in 2021.

“We’ve only won one game, against Kilkenny, there. You just want to express yourself when you get the opportunity to go out into Croke Park.”

Does the fact that the last visit there was that chastening 16-point loss to the Shannonsiders mean there is some scar tissue?

“I suppose look, other people might be different but I wouldn’t really be looking back on games from a couple of years ago,” Kingston said.

“Our team has evolved, Limerick’s team has evolved, hurling itself has evolved, so I wouldn’t be looking at those games too much.

“The last time we played in Croke Park was the All-Ireland final in 2021, where we didn’t do ourselves justice or express ourselves on the day. So you’d be doing your best to rectify that performance.

“Obviously we’re on four wins in a row, which is great to build momentum. Fellas are a bit older and bit more mature. You’d be hoping that would stand to you when you’re going into the semi-final.

“It’s a big day, a big occasion. There’s going to be a lot of people there. You’re hoping fellas are a bit more mature than they were a couple of years ago.”

Even in the current campaign, Cork have had to show that kind of resilience, having put themselves behind the eight-ball with losses to Waterford and Clare. What changed?

“The first day, we didn’t really perform against Waterford,” said Kingston.

“We probably played OK against Clare. Down to 14 men, it’s always a tough task to get over the line.

“We probably performed better when it was our backs to the wall against Limerick. That big result then probably carried the momentum into the next few games.

“Maybe that bit of luck as well that we didn’t have in previous years. Last year was a puck of a ball in three games that could have put us through.

“Most people had probably written us off after the two games but, internally, in amongst ourselves, we had trust amongst the group that we could still get through.

“We were in a similar position in 2022, where we lost the first two games and we managed to claw it back. Any day you go out, you’re going to believe that you can win and I think we’ve proven that over the last number of weeks.”

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