Pádraic "Podge" Collins (born 14 January 1992) is an Irish Gaelic footballer and hurler who plays as a right wing-forward for Cratloe and previously with the Clare senior team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Pádraic Ó Coileáin | ||
| Sport | Hurling | ||
| Born |
14 January 1992 Caherdavin, Limerick, Ireland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | ||
| Nickname | Podge | ||
| Occupation | Bank of Ireland employee | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
2009– | Cratloe | ||
| Club titles | |||
| Football | Hurling | ||
| Clare titles | 3 | 2 | |
| Inter-county(ies)* | |||
| Years | County | Apps (scores) | |
2012–2023 | Clare | 41 (0–18) | |
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Munster titles | 0 | ||
| All-Irelands | 1 | ||
| NHL | 1 | ||
| All Stars | 1 | ||
| *Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 20:56, 26 November 2013. | |||
He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of eighteen when he first linked up with the Clare minor team, before later lining out with the under-21 side. He made his senior debut in the 2012 championship. Collins has since gone on to play a key role for Clare, and has won one All-Ireland medal.[1]
At club level Collins is a dual senior championship medallist with Cratloe.
Early life
editBorn in Caherdavin, Limerick, Collins first played competitive hurling whilst at school in St. Caimin's C.S., Shannon.
His father, Colm, managed the Clare senior football team from 2013 onwards.[2][3]
Playing career
editMinor and under-21
editCollins first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Clare minor team in 2010. He won his first Munster medal that year following a 1-16 to 1-11 defeat of Waterford.[4] Clare subsequently qualified for the All-Ireland decider against Kilkenny, however, Collins's side faced a narrow 2-10 to 0-14 defeat.[5]
By 2012 Collins had joined the Clare under-21 team. He won a Munster medal in that grade as Clare defeated Tipperary by 1-16 to 1-14.[6] Clare subsequently faced Kilkenny in the All-Ireland decider. After trailing at half-time, Clare outscored their opponents by 1-10 to 0-4 in the second period of play to secure a 2-17 to 2-11 victory.[7] It was Collins's first All-Ireland medal in the grade.
Clare dominated the under-21 series once again in 2013. A 1-17 to 2-10 defeat of Tipperary in the provincial decider gave Collins a second Munster medal.[8] The subsequent All-Ireland saw Clare face first-time finalists Antrim. In a complete mismatch, Clare powered to a 2-28 to 0-12 victory, with Collins collecting a second consecutive All-Ireland medal.[9]
Senior
editCollins made his senior championship debut at right wing-forward in a 2-17 to 1-18 defeat by Waterford on 17 June 2012.[citation needed]
On 8 September 2013, Collins lined out against Cork in his first All-Ireland final. Three second-half goals through Conor Lehane, Anthony Nash and Pa Cronin, and a tenth point of the game from Patrick Horgan gave Cork a one-point lead as injury time came to an end. A last-gasp point from corner-back Domhnall O'Donovan earned Clare a 0-25 to 3-16 draw.[10] The replay on 28 September was regarded as one of the best in recent years. Clare's Shane O'Donnell was a late addition to the team, and went on to score a hat-trick of goals in the first nineteen minutes of the game. Horgan top scored for Cork, however, further goals from Conor McGrath and Darach Honan secured a 5-16 to 3-16 victory for Clare.[11] It was Collins's first All-Ireland medal. He rounded off the season by collecting his first All-Star award, while he was also a nominee for Hurler of the Year.[12]
In 2014 along with his brother Sean he joined up with the Clare senior football team who were managed by his father Colm. He played during their NFL Div 4 campaign, but missed out on the final. He then lined out in the Munster Senior Football Championship game with Waterford, he missed out on the replay due to hurling. He returned to the side for the Munster semi final where Clare went down by 4 points to Kerry. Clare then entered round 2 of the qualifiers where they faced Carlow. Collins scored a goal as his side ran out 4-26 to 2-13 winners. In the next round despite leading for long stages of the game Clare fell short by a point to Kildare.[citation needed]
At the end of the 2014 Collins along with his brother reported they would be committing to football only for the 2015 season. In October 2015, it was reported that Collins would again play with the Clare footballers and hurlers in 2016.[13]
In December 2023, Collins announced his retirement from inter-county football.[14]
Honours
edit- Clare
- All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (1) : 2013
- All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship (2) : 2012,2013
- Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship (2) : 2012, 2013
- Munster Minor Hurling Championship (1) : 2010
- National Hurling League Division 1 (1) : 2016
- Waterford Crystal Cup (1) : 2013
- Munster Senior Hurling League (1) : 2016
- Cratloe
- Clare Senior Football Championship (3) : 2013, 2014, 2023
- Clare Intermediate Football Championship (1) : 2009
- Clare Senior Hurling Championship (2) : 2009, 2014
- Clare Under-21 Football Championship (2): 2009, 2011
Awards
- GAA-GPA All-Star Award (1): 2013
- The Sunday Game Player of the Year (1): 2013
References
edit- ^ Shannon, Kieran (16 November 2013). "Still writing banner headlines". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- ^ "Colm Collins: Podge to decide on which code to play in 2017". RTÉ. 20 September 2017.
- ^ Verney, Michael (20 September 2017). "'I won't be putting pressure on Podge'". Irish Independent.
- ^ Cahill, Jackie (12 July 2010). "Another Clare boost as 21-year wait ends". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
- ^ O'Toole, Fintan (6 September 2010). "Kilkenny pushed to the limit". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
- ^ O'Flynn, Diarmuid (9 August 2012). "Bannermen celebrate redemption". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
- ^ O'Flynn, Diarmuid (17 September 2012). "Dynamic duo drive Clare to glory". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
- ^ O'Flynn, Diarmuid (8 August 2013). "Banner's rise irresistible". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
- ^ O'Riordan, Ian (14 September 2013). "Clare win pulling up to take third title in five years". Irish Times. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
- ^ O'Flynn, Diarmuid (9 September 2013). "An emotional, riveting roller-coaster". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
- ^ O'Flynn, Diarmuid (30 September 2013). "A day borrowed from the hurling gods". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
- ^ "MDMA and Tony Kelly scoop top gongs at GAA GPA All Star Awards". Irish Independent. 8 November 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
- ^ "Podge Collins set to resume with Clare hurlers after shift in position by Davy Fitzgerald". Irish Independent. 15 October 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
- ^ "Clare All-Ireland winner Podge Collins retires". RTE Sport. 7 December 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2023.