Cratloe’s Podge Collins has ruled out fulfilling a dual-role for Clare in 2017.
Speaking on Clare FM, the 2013 All-Ireland medallist revealed that he felt the dual-role wasn’t sustainable. The twenty four old didn’t confirm which setup he would be apart of next year.
Collins was first drafted onto the Clare hurling panel in Davy Fitzgerald in 2012 leaving the football panel to join the hurlers. He attempted to play both sports in 2014 while he ruptured his cruciate ligament in 2015 when focusing on football under the management of his father, Colm.
He said “I suppose this year, just the way the fixtures fell with both teams getting to the quarter-finals… big games were on the same weekend. Like, the weekend of the Laois game and the weekend of the Roscommon and Galway game. So playing two games in a weekend it’s unfair, I suppose, on myself and both teams so, unfortunately, I don’t think that’s sustainable so next year I’ll just be playing the one.”
At present Podge is a vital component of the Cratloe side still in the hunt for a hurling and football double. Their senior side play Éire Óg in the quarter-finals of the Clare SHC today while the footballers have a semi-final outing next weekend.