Tag Archives: Podge Collins

Clare 0-10 Antrim 0-6 A MAGNIFICENT second half display helped Clare to a four point win over Antrim in Creggan on Sunday, ensuring promotion to division 3. Having played division 4 football since 2008 this win was a huge boost to Clare football as it was the county teams fourth recent attempt to secure promotion on the final day of the season. They lost out in 2010, 2012 and 2013. Clare’s second half display was led by excellent performances from half time substitute Podge Collins, who scored two points from play, Shane McGrath, Gary Brennan, along with wing back Ciaran Russell, who had a superb game. Things didn’t look quite so positive at half time though. Clare led 0-4 to 0-2 having played with a very strong breeze at the Antrim venue. Incredibly the game was scoreless until the 19th minute when Martin O’Leary pointed a free. Clare kicked 13 first half wides, while David Tubridy, Seán Collins McGrath added …

WHEN Podge Collins was beckoned from the dugout, along with Michael O’Shea, early in the second half in Dungarvan, it represented the hurling All-Star’s league debut for the county footballers. His impact was immediate. Collins pointed a left-footed score, which came at a critical time for Clare. It followed a sustained period of Waterford possession, which only resulted in a single Paul Whyte pointed free. Collins’ point was similar to the left-footed effort he landed in the Munster club football semi-final against Ballincourty in Cusack Park last November. “That one against Ballincourty was a bit of a fluke,” the UL student joked. Sunday didn’t represent his debut for the senior footballers, as Collins played in the 2012 McGrath Cup, while he represented the county at U-21 level for three years. Prior to that, he played county football at every level, from U-14 to minor. Playing both codes for Clare represents a major challenge. However, Podge, whose brother Seán worked hard …

WHILE currently concentrating on Cratloe’s county senior football semi-final meeting with Éire Óg in Clarecastle on Sunday, Seán and Podge Collins would ideally like to play both codes for Clare in 2014, if feasible. Along with clubmates Cathal McInerney, Liam Markham and Conor Ryan, they have played football for Clare at every underage level from U-14. Community centres in Lissycasey, Kilmihil and Cooraclare were packed on Monday night for the visit of Liam MacCarthy, who was escorted by the Collins brothers, Brendan Bugler and Louis Mulqueen. Speaking before he left Cooraclare, Seán said he would love to give inter-county football a crack, if possible, particularly as his father, Colm, has been confirmed as manager on a three-year term. “I have always had a huge interest in football, as much as I have in hurling. I go to as many club matches as I would hurling. If it was possible, it is something I’d love to do. But whether it’s physically …