Shane Kingston is an Irish hurler who plays as a left wing-forward, full-forward and left corner-forward for club side Douglas and at inter-county level with the Cork senior hurling team.
Kingston first came to prominence as a dual player with St. Francis College in Rochestown. Having played both codes at every grade, he was a forward on both of the college's senior teams that lost the Harty Cup and Corn Uí Mhuirí finals in 2015.
Kingston joined the Douglas club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels, enjoying championship success in under-14, under-15 and under-16 grades. In 2013 he was top scorer with 0-07 in the final as Douglas defeated St. Finbarr's to take the Premier 1 MFC title. In 2015 his season was hampered by injury, however, he was introduced in the 49th minute in Douglas's Premier 1 MHC final victory over Sarsfields. Kingston subsequently progressed onto the club's under-21 teams, winning championship honours as a hurler in 2016 and as a Gaelic footballer in 2017. By this stage, Kingston had already made his senior hurling championship debut, coming on as a substitute in a 1-14 to 0-09 defeat of St. Finbarr's on 23 May 2015.
Cork
Minor and under-21
Kingston first played for Cork at minor level in 2014. A dual player with both the hurlers and Gaelic footballers, his season ultimately ended without success with defeats by Limerick and Dublin. Kinsgton was eligible for the minor grade again in 2015 and lined out in both codes as well as being named captain of the hurling team. After playing in the early rounds of both championships, he sustained a broken fibula and significant ligament damage in a challenge game against Clare, bringing his season to an end. On 23 June 2016, Kingston made his first appearance for the Cork under-21 hurling team, scoring 1-6 in Cork's seven-point defeat by Limerick. He also played in Cork's unsuccessful championship campaign in 2017, before being named captain of the team in 2018. On 4 July 2018, Kingston won a Munster medal after scoring four points from play in Cork's 2-23 to 1-13 defeat of Tipperary in the final. On 26 August 2018, he captained Cork to a 3-13 to 1-16 All-Ireland final defeat by Tipperary in what was his last game in the grade. Kingston was later nominated for the Team of the Year.
Senior
Kingston made his senior debut for Cork on 2 July 2016, replacing Séamus Harnedy for the final 7 minutes of an All-Ireland Qualifier against Dublin at Páirc Uí Rinn. He made his first start in a National League defeat of Clare on 11 February 2017, before making his first championship start later that season in a Munster Championship quarter-final against Tipperary. Kingston scored 1-04 from play in that game and was a regular starter for Cork's subsequent championship games. On 9 July 2017, he won his first Munster medal following a 1-25 to 1-20 defeat of Clare in the final. On 1 July 2018, Kingston won a second successive Munster medal following a 2-24 to 3-19 defeat of Clare in the final.
