*Podge Collins in action for the Clare senior footballers. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
REACHING AN ALL-IRELAND quarter-final for the first time since 2016 marked a positive campaign for Clare’s senior footballers but the inability to produce consistent displays irked Podge Collins and his teammates.
Reflecting on the year that was for the county footballers, Podge acknowledged that there were positive aspects to the season including their qualifier wins over Roscommon and Meath but he was frustrated with how it concluded.
Clare need to strive for consistency, he maintained. “We’re at a level where it’s about performance, consistent performance is important. We started the league performing very well and then we went through a bit of a lull, Limerick were better than us on the day and fair play they deserved their victory, we didn’t play well against Meath but got over them, we performed against Roscommon for probably forty minutes and really switched off for twenty five minutes, that was very disappointing, then to come out with then you’re happy”.
He continued, “To reflect on the year as a whole, you’d like to get that bit more consistent performances throughout the year, if we could replicate that first half against Roscommon more consistently you’d be more impressed. It’s great winning but when you reflect on the year you’ve nothing won so you go with the club again”.
Of their exit at the hands to Derry, a fourteen point loss in Croke Park, the Cratloe attacker coined it “a very disappointing end”. Podge said, “Derry were a level above us. I suppose you’re going into the game and thinking like Derry who were unlucky to stay in Division 2 this year, they are a good side but performed unbelievably well in Ulster beating Tyrone, beating Monaghan, beating Donegal, is an impressive run but you always think you can put it up to them but they completely outclassed us. We can’t complain, we didn’t show up at all, it is very disappointing but that’s sport”.
While not making excuses, the former dual-player felt hurling being the county’s number one sport did have a drawback on the Banner making further inroads when it came to gaelic football. “I feel in a dual-county that is probably more hurling, more young lads growing up would focus on the hurling. I was thinking today, you see a club team like Ballyea who have Cathal O’Connor who is midfield in the football, Pearse Lillis who is wing forward on the football, Aaron Griffin corner forward on the football and Cillian Brennan full back on the football, all playing with that club team and all playing very well, they probably wouldn’t have given the same level of dedication to hurling like Paul Flanagan, Jack Browne or Tony Kelly would”.
Speaking on Newstalk’s Off The Ball, Podge added, “In those split counties, you won’t always get your best fifteen on the field whatever way you look at it. Kilkenny constantly produce and compete because everyone in Kilkenny with the exception of a small group, play all hurling, Kerry it is predominantly football so you’re going to get a lot of the best players playing football, it is always going to be a challenge because you’re competing with that”.
Collins believed Clare could learn a lot by looking at Derry. “Derry are predominantly football but you would look at Derry and take inspiration from a team like that who came from Division 4, got their house in order, came to Division 3, came to Division 2, won an Ulster title and are playing some excellent football. We have some excellent players, Eoin Cleary is as good as what’s around, Jamie Malone excellent, David Tubridy is still going strong at 36”.
His father, Colm is currently the longest-serving inter-county football manager and is taking time to consider his position. “He has done a great job with Clare, he’s the longest serving football manager. You can always improve and always get better. This year, there was obviously a very disappointing end but it is completely his decision, I wouldn’t comment on it and let him make his mind up, the same way I would be let make up my own mind,” Podge commented.
