Cork duo happy to be back on top after tougher times

IT'S three years since Shane Kingston and Conor Lehane last started a Championship game together for Cork and, who knows, it might never happen again.

- By PAT NOLAN

The game was an All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Galway.

Lehane was replaced at half-time having scored a point from a free;

Kingston played the whole game, scoring 1-2.

A few days later, Kingston's father Kieran stepped down as manager and in Cork's 17 Championship games under Pat Ryan since, Lehane has started just four and Kingston one, against Limerick in 2023.

Kingston has been used more often off the bench having been introduced 13 times to Lehane's six, with their impact varying and rarely decisive, though Kingston's contribution against Limerick in Páirc Uí Chaoimh last year is an exception in that regard.

In Saturday's Munster final, however, they were introduced within minutes of each other, towards the end of normal time, and were huge factors in Cork's victory.

Kingston shot 0-3 from play while Lehane hit 0-2 and was fouled for a free that was converted. Both then scored penalties in Cork's dramatic 3-2 shootout win.