Podge Collins praises Clare for overcoming past disappointments to win All-Ireland

Former Clare hurler Podge Collins praised his county for overcoming previous defeats to win this year’s All-Ireland hurling championship.

In a final that will live long in the memory, Clare ended an 11-year wait for Liam McCarthy when they defeated Cork after extra time in Croke Park.

After close semi-final defeats in 2022 and 2023, and losing the Munster final this year to Limerick, Collins admitted morale was not high in the county.

Looking back on Clare’s success, the former All-Ireland winner says this made the Banner county’s achievements all the greater.

“It was unbelievable. I didn’t think, leaving the Munster final this year, talking to a few people, they were disappointed with how we went in that Munster final. The atmosphere was sucked out of that game after five or ten minutes.

“It was a bit like, ‘Is this gonna go the way it’s gone for the last few years?’ For those lads to turn that around from that game and just play some exceptional hurling and produce the performances they produced. As a Clare fan and as a Clare person it was just unbelievably enjoyable.

“I know you have to take very year in its merits, but form being around the lads and being from Clare and seeing years where things didn’t go tat well and being involved in teams that didn’t go that well, to achieve what they did this year, it is special.”

Collins was involved in the years that followed the 2013 win, which saw years of Clare not in contention come the business end of the season.

As a player, he says it feels different coming into the season as defending champions, but backs Clare to learn from the mistakes of previous teams.

““It is different. We obviously didn’t respond to it too well back then, and I just think the experience Clare have now will help them moving into this year.

“I can just tell by the way they are training this year and how focused they are and chatting to different lads, they are mad for the season to start again and get back into it, so I am looking forward to seeing how they get on.

“Listen, defending any championship is tough because there is a target on your back whether you like it or not. They are probably going to be fourth favourites going into the All-Ireland which is no surprise.

“They probably would have been something similar at the start of this year, maybe less. They will be just preparing the best they can, I am interested to see how it goes.”

Having retired from inter-county hurling in 2023, it was an unusual experience for Collins to be watching from the outside.

The Clare man is now part the coaching staff for Mary immaculate college, as they prepare for the Fitzgibbon Cup in 2025.

While coaching was on the agenda since the end of his career, Collins admits it has come with its challenges.

“It was probably something a good few of my team mates would bounced off me towards the middle to end of my career. It is something I’ve really enjoyed since I’ve got into it, and it is challenging. It doesn’t come without its challenges, it’s very time consuming.

“You’ve to be at it every night. Sometimes, as a player you’ve those nights when you bring the gear bag to training, and you just get through a training session. You know you’re not at it or in the mood.

“We all have those days whether it is in work, training or otherwise. As a coach or a manager you’ve to be at it for the group of players. So, you’ve to get yourself up for it and it is a bit different, but I’ve really enjoyed it.

Looing forward to the competition, Collins is interested to see what young players step up, with many having their eyes on inter-county hurling in 2025.

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“A lot of these young lads, particularly those on an inter-county squad or around an inter-county squad or those who want to get trials for the inter-county squad, it is their priority. This competition, it puts the players that have made it into a unique position.

“They are a leader in a team. Harty Cup, U21, these players have been leaders in their team, Fitzgibbon is another opportunity for them to show inter-county management that they have leadership attributes.

“I think that is why inter-county managers and management groups like going to these Fitzgibbon games. They get to see what their 21 year old maybe corner forward is like as a leader, when he has to lead the line or they need a score at the end of a game, is he going to step up?

“I think it brings a different element for inter-county managers to look at these games, for what they want to see from star players or players that want to break in.”

Sourse: breakingnews.ie