Podge Collins: 'I was demoralised by how inter-county football was being played'

Collins says he is delighted to see fottball has changed. 

Former Clare dual star Podge Collins has revealed that he ended up 'demoralised' by how inter-county football was being played.

The 2013 All-Ireland hurling medal winner finished out his county career with the Banner footballers under father Colm in 2023 having lined out in All-Ireland football quarter-finals in 2016 and 2022.

His Dad will go down as Clare's greatest ever football manager though his biggest service to the game may yet go down as his role as a member of the Football Review Committee.

Collins was a key part of Jim Gavin's FRC which has devised a suite of radical new playing rules for 2025, principally around making the game faster and more attractive.

Podge retired from inter-county duty mainly because of the impact of injuries but said at the launch of the Electric Ireland sponsored third level championships that football had also become unenjoyable style-wise.

"I'm delighted to see football being changed," said Collins. "Playing a couple of my last inter-county football games, I remember going away from them and as a team we had maybe eight or nine shots at the goal. I remember kind of being demoralised about it. It's not the reason I retired or anything like that, that was more down to injuries. I'd still be playing because I love competing but it needed an overhaul.

"I haven't got to play with the rules yet but everybody I'm talking to who is training under the rules, or trying to implement them to their training, I'm getting such positive feedback. A lot of lads are saying it's like a completely different game."

It remains to be seen if new Clare manager Peter Keane can work the changes to the Banner's advantage. The return of experienced duo Eoin Cleary and Keelan Sexton should help their cause.

In attendance at the draw of the Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Championships at Croke Park today is Mary Immaculate College selector, Podge Collins.

"They've got a few players back and lads that can kick points," said Collins, eyeing the new two-point arc. "It's a positive time for Clare football. Different people have different opinions within the county about who should have got the (manager) job but I think it's very positive. We're getting great feedback from the players. They're enjoying being back and enjoying training."

Collins, 32, has continued in his role as coach with the Mary Immaculate College Fitzgibbon Cup team. They won the 2024 championship and have been drawn in a tricky group alongside UL, whom they beat in this year's final, SETU Waterford and ATU Galway.

Mary I won't have goalkeeper Jason Gillane, their netminder for this year's success, but the Patrickswell man will still have a busy winter.

There is a vacancy in the Limerick goals following the long-term knee injury suffered by Nickie Quaid and Collins fancies Gillane's chances.

"It's going to be down to who sacrifices the most, puts in the most effort and gives it the right amount of time," said Collins. "I think if Jason does that, I'd probably have him number one. From dealing with him last season, I really enjoyed my time with Jason. It's an opportunity for him and it's obviously awful for Nickie.

"I'd also say that Nickie, knowing the man he is, I'd say he'll be fighting to come back anyway, maybe even towards the latter end of the year.

"But yeah, it's a great opportunity for Jason and the other lads going for the goals. It'll be interesting. It's probably one that everyone on the outside is looking at with a lot of interest."

As for Clare, former All-Star Collins said the reality is that they're probably not even in the top-three when it comes to picking the 2025 Championships favourites.

"I'd imagine it would be Limerick," said Collins of the favourite. "I wouldn't be surprised if Cork were second and I wouldn't be surprised if Kilkenny were third and Clare were thrown in at fourth."