SHANNON’s Laura Linnane and Podge Collins of Cratloe have been appointed to new roles with the Gaelic Players Association (GPA).
Eight part-time engagement and development officers (EDOs) have been appointed by the GPA in what it has labelled “a refresh to engaging with its membership”.
Laura and Podge are among the eight former inter-county players announced as EDOs. They are looking after the South Region and will focus on ensuring squad needs in their areas are catered for across the GPA pillars of representation, welfare, development and equality. The EDOs will report into the GPA’s Player Development Team led by Head of Development and Wellbeing Jennifer Rogers, herself a former Westmeath footballer and All-Ireland winner.
An All-Ireland winner with the Clare junior camogie side in 2008, Laura finished as joint top scorer with four points when the Deirdre Murphy captained outfit defeated Offaly 2-8 1-10 courtesy of a late goal from Shonagh Enright.
Linnane represented Clare on the camogie field for over a decade and since retiring has had a successful coaching career which included coaching the first St Flannan’s camogie side to win an All-Ireland title when they defeated St Louis Grammar School from Ballymena Co Antrim in 2009.
She served as a selector with UL when they won two Ashbourne titles and spent one season as part of Ger O’Connell’s Clare senior camogie management in 2019. She is the daughter of retired Shannon GP, Dr Michael Linnane. Laura completed a Masters in Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology from SETU.
Of her new role, Laura commented, “My role involves liaising with the female county squads in both codes in Munster and Galway. The aim is to promote further engagement from players with the excellent services offered in the BEO 360 programme. These services include fully funded educational scholarships, CV and interview guidance, leadership and transition programmes, counselling services and much more. The role involves working with squads as their primary point of contact for all matters relating to player welfare and ensuring their voices are heard and represented”.
Clare’s last dual player at senior level, Podge won an All-Ireland SHC in 2013 following an outstanding season at corner forward which earned him an All Star and a nomination as Hurler of the Year. He won an Allianz National Hurling League in 2016 while he won All-Ireland and Munster U21 championships in 2012 and 2013.
Podge last played for the Clare hurlers in 2020 during Brian Lohan’s first season as senior manager. He returned to the county football panel that season and remained with the side managed by his father Colm until announcing his inter-county retirement in 2023. With his club Cratloe, Podge has won three Clare SFC and two Clare SHC titles including a historic double in 2014. On the coaching front, he was part of the Clare minor hurling management this season as they reached the All-Ireland final and was part of the Mary Immaculate College Fitzgibbon Cup winning management of 2024.
Welcoming the appointments, Jennifer said, “The GPA ensure that an extensive list of supports and services are available to all of our 4,000 members as part of our BEO360 Player Development Programme. The programme aims to support the person behind the player, away from the field of play, be that through educational opportunities, business supports, career advice and mentoring and wellbeing services such as our counselling service. The new EDOs will be tasked with driving further engagement with BEO360 which has already provided support to 450 players in 2025 and 1365 over the last 3-years. The EDOs will also act as our primary point of contact with squads on matters related to player welfare as well as all matters where they want to have their opinions represented and voices heard”.
The GPA’s BEO360 Player Development Programme is funded through Le Chéile, a joint commercial partnership between the GPA and the GAA. In this way, all GAA/GPA sponsors are directly contributing to the welfare and development of inter-county players.
