Cork hurling boss admits frustration at sporting void with no start date in sight

CORK hurling manager Kieran Kingston admits he is concerned about the 2020 championship given sporting events have already been called off around the world into the Autumn.

“I think we can all totally understand and comprehend why we have no games," said Kingston, who is in his second stint as Cork boss. 

"The concerning thing is when you see a lot of sporting organisations cancelling a lot of events right up to the autumn. That would concern you."

The Rebels were due to host Limerick on May 10 but now will be doing well to be hurling in July.

“You’d be hopeful that there will be some sort of Championship there, that it will take place. I certainly believe it will, but maybe that’s your heart as well as your head saying that.

“You have to take the best advice available and see how this pandemic evolves.

“When it comes to the public health everything else is secondary. There are strict guidelines there and we have to adhere to them.” 

Speaking to Delcan Rooney in today's Irish Examiner, the Tracton native conceded he is frustrated about the current situation. He feels it's difficult for players when they don't even have a provisional start date for the Munster and All-Ireland series.

“The one thing that would be helpful to guys that are training on their own and you’re asking them to be self-motivated, they need some sort of a deadline.

“May won’t happen, so tell us May won’t happen. Say that our proposal is ‘X’, it might change but at the moment that’s the proposal."

Cork last had a competitive game in the league on March 1, when they were beaten up in Galway. Kingston's son Shane is among the panellists currently trying to stay sharp on their own.

“We don’t know how long the ban on collective training will last, but if it is to last for a few months I don’t think it’s practical for lads to continue training on their own for three or four months.

"Irrespective of what changes you make to the training programme, I don’t think that’s practical and possible. It’s demotivating more than anything.”