Shane Kingston wins latest Muskerry GAA Award

THE latest EPH Controls Muskerry GAA Award went to Shane Kingston.

The Ballinora star was instrumental in the green and red claiming a third Muskerry JAHC crown on the trot following victory over Dripsey in the final in October. It would end in disappointment for the Mid-Cork side when they conceded an injury-time goal to lose to Nemo Rangers by a point in the county semi-final.

Earlier in the year, Kingston played a significant role for the Cork U20 hurlers as they won the Munster and All-Ireland titles.

The latest award function took place at the Oriel House Hotel in Ballincollig recently.

“I am just delighted to have won this latest award in the Muskerry division,” Kingston says.

“It means so much for myself, my family and my club. There are a lot of great players in Mid-Cork and it had been a busy period so to claim the award is special for sure. Tadhg O’Connell, Maeve Murphy and Clíona Healy won awards in Muskerry over the last few months so to have now joined the list of award winners is a great feeling.

“You don’t expect these kinds of things to be honest. Anne O’Riordan of the Muskerry Board rang me a few weeks ago to tell me the news and I was delighted, it’s a great honour. You don’t really think of awards or anything like that until they come around. I have been busy with the Ballinora junior A team, but this is certainly a nice way to end 2023.” 

Kingston came out on top due to his performances in the Muskerry JAHC as Ballinora ruled supreme again. They did make steps forward, not least by winning a county hurling championship game for the first time ever when they beat Clonakilty in the quarter-final, but the ultimate goal remained elusive, but it certainly wasn’t down to a lack of trying.

“The first goal this season was to win the Mid-Cork and we achieved that,” Kingston said.

“I must say this year's Muskerry championship was the toughest since I started playing for the first team three years ago. There are a lot of good teams in it, Grenagh and Dripsey gave us massive tests in the semi-final and final. We could have easily lost both of those games. I do think the level was higher in Mid-Cork in 2023 compared to previous years and next season will probably be tougher again, you would expect the likes of Ballincollig’s second team, Blarney’s second team and Grenagh and Dripsey to push on.

“The tough games we got in the division stood to us then when we went out into the county when we won well against Clonakilty in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. It was probably the performance of the season that day and the week after we lost to Nemo. The second goal was to win the county and that’s the sad part of it. It’s not for the players really, it’s for the people of Ballinora. That’s sport, it will take a bit of time to get over it.” 

Before all that happened, Kingston, better known as a forward, lined out at full-back for the Cork U20 hurlers earlier in the year, it really couldn’t have gone any better for the Rebels and for the Ballinora man.

“It was incredible, memories that will last forever that’s for sure. We always knew we had the potential to do well and beating Clare in the Munster final was fantastic and then sure winning the All-Ireland was just surreal. Offaly brought a huge crowd, but we handled the occasion well. The celebrations after the game was class, seeing the young Ballinora kids on the pitch after was unbelievable.

“People would think I am a forward, I would have played either midfield or in the forwards for Ballinora coming up through the underage ranks but when I made the Cork minors I ended up wing-back then got moved back corner-back and it just stemmed from there really. It’s nice to play in different positions. I was full-forward for the Ballinora junior A hurlers in 2022 and then centre-back this year. I am just happy to play wherever. 

"Roll on 2024.”