Paddy Collins

Infobox GAA player
code= Hurling
sport = Hurling


name = Paddy 'Fox' Collins
irish = Pádraig Ó Coileáin
fullname = Patrick Collins
placeofbirth = Kinsale
countryofbirth = Ireland
bday=12
bmonth=4
byear= 1903
dyear=1995
dday=17
dmonth=2
height =
nickname = Fox
county = Cork
province = Munster
club = Glen Rovers
clposition = Half-back
clubs =
clyears =
clapps(points) =
clcounty =
clprovince=
clallireland =
counties = Cork
icposition = Half-back
icyears = 1929-1938
icapps(points) =
icprovince = 2
icallireland = 2
allstars = 1
nhl = 1
clupdate =
icupdate =

Paddy 'Fox' Collins (12 April, 1903 - 17 February, 1995) was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Glen Rovers and with the Cork senior inter-county team in the 1920s and 1930s.

Playing career

Club

'Fox' Collins is regarded as the first great player of the Glen Rovers club. He was one of the stalwarts of the club as ‘the Glen’ joined the senior ranks of the county championship in 1926. After losing the county final of 1930 Collins won his first county championship medal four years later in 1934. It was the first of eight county titles in-a-row for ‘the Glen’, with Collins collecting seven county medals in-a-row. He retired from club hurling in 1940.

Inter-county

Collins first came to prominence on the inter-county scene with Cork in the late 1920s. He made his debut in 1929 as Cork retained their provincial dominance for a fourth consecutive year. A 4-6 to 2-3 defeat of Waterford gave Collins his first Munster title. The subsequent All-Ireland final was a replay of the previous year’s game as Cork played Galway once again. Mick Ahern scored a goal for Cork after just 25 seconds to start another rout. Cork won the day by 4-9 to 1-3 giving Collins his first All-Ireland medal.

In 1930 Collins added a National Hurling League title to his collection; however, Cork surrendered their provincial crown later that summer. The team bounced back in 1931 with Collins collecting a second Munster winners’ medal. Once again it took a replay for Cork and Waterford to be separated. The All-Ireland final saw Cork take on Kilkenny for the first time since 1926. After a close game both sides finished level – 1-6 apiece. Eudie Coughlan played a captain’s role in that game as he scored a point from his knees to level the scores. The replay of the final took place four weeks later and is regarded as a classic. Cork took the lead at half-time, however, Kilkenny fought back. Once again both sides finished level – 2-5 apiece. After this game officials pressed for extra time, however, this was rejected. It was also suggested at a meeting of the GAA’s Central Council that both counties be declared joint champions and that half an All-Ireland medal by given to each player. This motion was later defeated. The first week of November saw the second replay of the All-Ireland final take place. At the third attempt Cork triumphed by 5-8 to 3-4 giving Collins his third and final All-Ireland medal.

Collins continued playing with Cork without success until 1938.

Provincial

Collins also lined out with Munster in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He first played for his province in 1931 as Munster defeated Leinster. He line dout again in 1932 and 1933, however, Leinster triumphed on both occasions.

Teams

References

* Corry, Eoghan, "The GAA Book of Lists" (Hodder Headline Ireland, 2005).

External links

* [http://munster.gaa.ie/teams/seniorhurling.html Munster final winning teams]
* [http://www.hoganstand.com/Cork/Profile.aspx Cork GAA honours]