Podge Collins commits solely to hurling in 2017

Clare’s Tony Kelly has admitted that Podge Collins was placed in a difficult position when deciding which county panel to choose for 2017.

Dual star Collins, an Al-Ireland hurling winning colleague of Kelly’s in 2013, confided in his team-mate that he was keen to narrow down his commitments next season.

Collins confirmed publicly yesterday that he’s chosen hurling and won’t be available to father Colm who is manager of the county footballers.

The timing surprised some given that Collins was intent on playing both codes this year despite just returning from a serious knee injury and the footballers went on to reach the All-Ireland quarter-finals.

“He probably could have gone either way, with his father it’s a difficult decision,” said Kelly, the 2013 Hurler of the Year. “He’s a massive plus to us, to have him back. Even just to have him back full-time around training, the kind of character he is. He’s invaluable.”

The news will go down well with new joint managers Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor who have taken over from Davy Fitzgerald.

“Yeah, it’s a big plus,” continued Kelly. “From talking to him, he just wanted to concentrate on one of them and give it his all. It’s awful hard combining the two. When you’re training for football and training for hurling, you’re trying to give your all to both. He probably thought that he couldn’t give the energy levels or commitment to both. It’s massive.”

Meanwhile, Jimmy Browne and Kieran Corcoran have been drafted onto the new management’s backroom team.

Browne, LIT vice-president, worked alongside Moloney and O’Connor during the three All-Ireland U-21 winning campaigns from 2012-14.

Broadford native Corcoran was part of Moloney’s U21 management ticket this year and last.

They join the trio of Donal Óg Cusack, Liam Cronin and Kelvin Harold.