Qualifiers have killed dual players, says Clare boss Colm Collins

Clare football manager Colm Collins has lamented “the death of the dual player”, which he says has come about due to the fixture congestion brought on by the qualifier system.

Collins’ son Podge played both inter-county football and hurling for the Banner County last year, but has decider to focus solely on hurling for 2017, a decision the Clare football manager has backed fully. The Cratloe man says he treats his sons the same as all of his players – his second son Seán also plays senior football with Clare – and that Podge was free to make whatever call he wished.

“Listen, they make up their own minds. Anybody that’s with you has to be there because he wants to be there,” said Colm. “I don’t think it’s a major thing. I treat Padraic the same as I treat anybody. He made his decision, that’s it and you get on with it.”