Redemption day for maligned Rebel duo as Cork benefit from huge bench impact

Irish Daily Mirror

18 hours ago

It's three years this month since Shane Kingston and Conor Lehane last started a Championship game together for Cork and, who knows, it might never happen again.
The game in question 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 the 17 Championship games that Cork have played under Pat Ryan since, Lehane has started just four and Kingston one, against Limerick two years ago.
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.
Lehane was dropped from the Cork panel for the 2021 season and while he was back the following year and has remained involved ever since, he's been on the margins and, like Kingston, often much maligned.
So, the last few years have been frustrating.
'Ah yeah it has,' he admits. 'Sure look, that's the nature of the game. You wouldn't be involved unless you didn't know that going into it.
'I have no issue. With the talent that's there, representing Cork the best way they know how. They've done themselves justice numerous times. It's healthy competition.
'Just try stay as patient as you can and avoid injury if possible. When the chances come, then just be as tuned in as you can and try and make some sort of impact.'
Lehane is one of a dwindling number of survivors from Cork's previous Munster title in 2018 and, on a personal level, to win another seven years later while playing a central role, having been on and off the panel, was sweet.
'Ah definitely,' said the 32-year-old. 'Sure you want to make a positive impact for everyone and you want to have some sort of impact for yourself. In the overall scheme of things, this is where it matters. Just seeing the crowd there and the reaction, it's just worth everything.'
As good as Kingston was, he wasn't quite as impactful this time as in the 2021 All-Ireland semi-final win over Kilkenny, when he hit a whopping 0-7 off the bench.
"I was actually wearing the same number (23) so it's becoming a bit of a thing now,' said the Douglas man. 'Any day you're not in the starting 15 is obviously disappointing.
'The management put out their best team on any given day, so you just have to stop feeling sorry for yourself and focus on getting the best out of yourself if you're fortunate to be called upon.
"I suppose it's nothing I'm not used to at this stage. It's just about coming on and running relentlessly, hoping you get on that ball.
'For the first five, 10 minutes I didn't touch anything and then I got a ball in from Robbie [O'Flynn] and I just said I'd take it on because the boys were after playing 65, 70 minutes so I knew they'd be tired."
And the penalties?
'If I wasn't playing well I probably would have been a bit more hesitant hitting it,' Kingston explained.
'But confidence was high at the time. As soon as I knew I was hitting one, I just focused on scoring it. I just got the pick and it went in then."
'It went down to the wire in the best way possible,' said Lehane. 'You'd rather not be in too many of those situations. But when it comes out the better end for you, it's the best feeling in the world.'