Paddy Collins
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Pádraig Ó Coileáin | ||
| Sport | Hurling | ||
| Position | Left corner-back | ||
| Born | Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland | ||
| Nickname | Fox | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
1921-1940 | Glen Rovers | ||
| Club titles | |||
| Cork titles | 7 | ||
| Inter-county(ies) | |||
| Years | County | Apps (scores) | |
1929-1938 | Cork | 24 (0-00) | |
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Munster titles | 2 | ||
| All-Irelands | 2 | ||
| NHL | 1 | ||
| All Stars | 1 | ||
Paddy 'Fox' Collins (12 April 1903 - 17 February 1995) was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Glen Rovers and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1929 until 1938.
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.
References
- Corry, Eoghan, The GAA Book of Lists (Hodder Headline Ireland, 2005).