Podge Collins
By John Fallon
Clare’s Podge Collins says it is great to be back playing after being out of action for ten months with a cruciate injury.
The 24-year old, who concentrated on football at inter-county level last year, made his first appearance for Clare hurlers since 2014 when he came on in Sunday’s facile 2-28 to 1-9 win over Kerry.
Collins has been out of action since suffering a cruciate ligament injury at the end of May while playing for Cratloe in a senior hurling championship clash against Ballyea.
He has battled back to recovery and is making himself available to both the Clare hurlers and footballers this season, with his dad Colm again in charge of the footballers.
Collins said it will take him time to get up to the pace of inter-county hurling, with the Bannermen taking on Limerick next Sunday in Ennis in a winners-takes-all Division IB promotion clash.
“Getting used to the pace of it now will be a bit tough but getting a first day out in nine or ten months is great. I found it hard when I came on, the pace is very high.
“There were a lot of hits going in. It’s great to see how far Kerry have come in recent years. I know the scoreline was big but I don’t think it reflects how much they have developed. It was a good physical intense game and great to get a run.”
Collins, an All-Star when Clare won the All-Ireland in 2013, said that Sunday’s clash with neighbours Limerick will be a perfect test as they prepare for the championship.
“It really starts from here now. There is a lot at stake. When you go down to IB it’s a very tough division to get out of. We were fortunate enough to go to Wexford and get a result. So it all lies on next week against Limerick.
“Limerick and ourselves have been the form teams of this league so far, so it’s going to be an interesting battle. But with Clare and Limerick there’s always a big rivalry, so there’s going to be a big crowd and it’s going to be an interesting affair.”
He is looking forward to getting back to full fitness ahead of the championship.
“The ground is starting to harden, and we are getting sunny days. So that’s what it is all about, people are starting to come up to the matches and we are looking forward to a long summer, fingers crossed,” he added.
But manager Davy Fitzgerald urged Clare supporters to give Collins to get up to the pitch of the game.
“It’s nice to see him getting on the field. Podge has had a tough year with the cruciate, and it was great to get him back into action. He will need a good few matches. And I would say to people, don’t judge him too early. Give him a bit of time, and give him a bit of space to come, I think that’s very important,” said Fitzgerald.
