In May 2015, All Ireland winning Clare hurler Podge Collins had a huge career set back when he suffered a cruciate ligament injury in a club game.
A new documentary set to broadcast on UTV Ireland, Podge Collins: My Toughest Year is an in depth look at the subsequent twelve months in the life of the Cratloe native as he goes through the gruelling rehabilitation process. UTV Ireland journalist and Clare native Marie Crowe follows Collins through every step of the process, from the surgical procedure in Santry's Sports Clinic through to the gruelling fight to regain his match day fitness ahead of Clare's opening Munster Championship game this weekend. It's a great insight into the struggles an amateur athlete has to go through when trying to play the sports they love.
The documentary also touches on the struggles of dual players in the modern era.
“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."
Collins also touches on how there's been a good effort made to allow him to line out for both the Clare footballers and hurlers this summer.
“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.”
Podge Collins: My Toughest Year broadcasts this Monday, 30th May, at 8pm exclusively on UTV Ireland.
