Podge reflects on his toughest year

Dual-star Podge Collins has a lot on his plate and over the last twelve months, that plate was quiet full, a special documentary airing this Monday will give an inside look into the life of the Cratloe man as he juggles two sports at a high level while also recovering from a serious injury.

Podge Collins: My Toughest Year, broadcasts this Monday, 30th May, at 8pm on UTV Ireland. It gives an in-depth insight into the dedication and pain that the amateur athlete endured, for the passion of his sport and county.

Over the past 12-months, UTV Ireland sports reporter and fellow Clare native, Marie Crowe, followed Podge throughout each step of his cruciate ligament recovery process – gaining exclusive access to his surgical procedure, his rehabilitation and his fight to regain match-day fitness, as he lines out for his first Championship since 2014.

Facing a devastating injury and subsequent recovery is not the only challenge Podge Collins has faced in recent times. Balancing his career with a strict training regime for two teams competing at the highest level also presents significant challenges.

Discussing the struggles of his dual dream in the documentary, Podge says: “When you’re a young lad growing up and playing both codes, one of the hard things is when you are thinking during the week that you have training with this coach and that coach on the same night and you’re wondering who will I ring and how will I work it. I really found that difficult because I hate telling one manager I couldn’t train because I was training with someone else.

“This year it’s been very well organised. Both managements have been coordinating the schedule and then that’s put in front of me and I just do it. I know exactly where I’m going to be each night of the week.”

Speaking about the skillset of the two codes, the twenty four year old finds it hard to pinpoint which sport is more skilful. “People say hurling requires more skill, but I think football is just as skilful. You see the great players like Colm Cooper, James O’Donoghue, Sean Cavanagh, Diarmuid Connolly and Bernard Brogan. The skill level they bring to the table is unbelievable and, while it’s hard to get anywhere near them, it’s important to bring the football down to the alley, as well as the hurley.”

With his father Colm the Clare football manager since 2014, Podge describes the feeling of winning a National Football League under the management of his dad. “You obviously want to play for your father and winning a League final in Croke Park was special and something I’ll never forget.”

Sixmilebridge woman Marie Crowe is one of the key people behind the documentary. Gaelic games has always been a part of her life. “GAA played a huge part in my family life and, from a very young age, I have had nothing but respect and admiration for club and county players who put their bodies on the line, purely for the passion of the sport. A lot of people don’t see what goes on behind the scenes. Players train first thing in the morning, fulfil their day-job, and train again in the evening – all to maintain a level of fitness on par with some of the highest paid sports professionals in the world”.

She added “Podge is a prime example of one of Ireland’s finest amateur athletes who dedicates his life to his county. He has fought hard and faced challenges that many of us would have shied away from – all to wear the coveted saffron and blue. It has been a pleasure following Podge on his journey to recovery and I would like to thank him for giving us exclusive access for this documentary.”

Podge Collins: My Toughest Year broadcasts this Monday, 30th May, at 8pm exclusively on UTV Ireland.