Colm Collins

Colm Collins

Club management
Years Club Clare

Colm Collins is a Gaelic football manager, associated with Cratloe GAA club.[1][2][3]

Career

Collins is a native of Kilmihil.[4][5] He began managing Clare in late 2013 and became the longest-serving inter-county football manager when Mickey Harte left Tyrone.[6]

Collins led Clare from Division 4 to Division 3 of the National Football League, then to Division 2 where he consolidated his team's position.[7] He led Clare to the 2016 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship qauerter-finals.[8] He stayed on as Clare's manager for 2018.[9] At the end of that year he became the fourth longest-serving manager after Mickey Harte, Jim Gavin and Malachy O'Rourke.[10][11] At the end of 2019, the third longest,[12] he announced then that he would take time to consider his future after Clare's championship exit.[13] He led Clare to the 2022 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship quarter-finals, when they had the beating of Roscommon.[14][15]

With his appointment for a tenth season at the end of 2022, Collins became the longest serving inter-county manager in either code (since Brian Cody had earlier resigned as Kilkenny hurling manager).[16]

Collins stepped down as Clare manager when his team exited the championship in June 2023, leaving Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney as the longest serving manager in inter-county football.[17][18]

Personal life

His son, Podge, is a footballer and hurler.[19][20] Podge concentrated on the football for 2015.[21] He concentrated on the football for 2021, from '14 up until '16, he did the two teams but only hurling in '17.[22]

References

1. Lawlor, Damian (30 May 2021). "Clare's confident, consistent, courageous Colm Collins". RTÉ.
2. "Collins Confident Cratloe Are Well Prepared For Shot At Clare SFC Quarter Finals". Clare FM. 16 August 2017.
3. "McInerney The Star As Cratloe Advance To Clare SFC Quarter Finals". Clare FM. 19 August 2017.
4. "Colm Collins Expected To Be Ratified As Clare Football Manager Tonight". Clare FM. 3 September 2019.
5. McMahon, Padraic (27 January 2021). "Collins to continue as Clare boss for 2021". Clare Echo.
6. Keane, Paul (6 January 2022). "Football's longest-serving manager Colm Collins: 'I love what I do and the lads are fine with me'". Irish Examiner.
7. Keys, Colm (30 April 2022). "Memory of 2020 reminds Clare that there is no easy Munster final route". Irish Independent.
8. "Colm Collins: The game was won in the first half". RTÉ. 23 July 2016.
9. "Clare keep Collins". Hogan Stand. 3 October 2017.
10. Verney, Michael (21 September 2018). "Collins to join elite group while Laois go on trial". Irish Independent.
11. Farrell, Sinead (18 September 2018). "Collins joins group including Harte and Gavin as he heads for sixth year in charge of Clare footballers". The42.ie.
12. Keane, Paul (8 July 2019). "Colm Collins to take time to consider Clare future: Colm Collins, the third longest serving inter-county senior football manager, has confirmed he'll take time out to consider his future after Clare's Championship exit". Irish Examiner.
13. O'Toole, Fintan (26 June 2021). "'He's an absolute master of the craft' — Why Clare's long-serving boss shows no signs of stopping". The42.ie.
14. Flynn, Pat (11 June 2022). "Clare through to All-Ireland quarter-finals". Clare Herald.
15. Verney, Michael (11 June 2022). "Clare secure famous win as late comeback floors Roscommon and secures All-Ireland quarter-final place". Irish Independent.
16. Lawlor, Damien; Ryan, Eoin (6 September 2022). "Colm Collins back for 10th season with Clare footballers". RTÉ.
17. "Kieran McGeeney: Armagh manager to continue for 10th season at the helm". BBC. 7 August 2023.
18. "McGeeney reappointed for ninth season". Hogan Stand. 16 August 2022.
19. "Colm Collins: Podge to decide on which code to play in 2017". RTÉ. 20 September 2017.
20. Verney, Michael (20 September 2017). "'I won't be putting pressure on Podge'". Irish Independent.
21. O'Toole, Fintan (21 October 2014). "Podge Collins: 'Davy felt it didn't work last year and I don't think I'll be changing his mind'". The42.ie.
22. Fogarty, Jhn (7 March 2021). "Podge Collins to remain with Clare footballers in 2021". Irish Examiner.

External links

• McKeon, Conor (7 June 202). "Colm Collins' Clare are an example for others to follow". Irish Independent.

Sporting positions
Preceded by Mick O'Dwyer	Clare Senior Football Manager 2013–2023	Succeeded by Mark Fitzgerald