Brian Collins (Gaelic footballer)

Last updated

Brian Collins
Personal information
Irish name Brian Ó Coileáin
Sport Gaelic football
Position Centre-back
Born 1974
Castlehaven
County Cork, Ireland
Occupation Accountant
Club(s)
YearsClub
Castlehaven
Club titles
Cork titles 2
Munster titles 2
All-Ireland Titles 0
Colleges(s)
YearsCollege
Cork RTC
College titles
Sigerson titles 0
Inter-county(ies)
YearsCountyApps (scores)
1994-1998
Cork 2 (0-00)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles 0
All-Irelands 0
NFL 0
All Stars 0

Brian Collins (born 1974) is an Irish retired Gaelic footballer. At club level, he played with Castlehaven and was also a member of the Cork senior football team.

Contents

Playing career

Collins played Gaelic football at all levels as a student at St Fachtna's De La Salle College in Skibbereen. He won back-to-back Corn Uí Mhuirí medals in 1990 and 1991, before converting the latter win into a Hogan Cup medal after a 2-09 to 0-07 win over St Patrick's Classical School in the 1991 All-Ireland colleges final. [1] [2] Collins also lined out with Cork RTC in the Sigerson Cup.

At club level, Collins first played Gaelic football with the Castlehaven club at juvenile and underage levels, before progressing to adult level. He won his first Cork SFC medal in 1994, after a two-point win over O'Donovan Rossa in a final replay. [3] Collins added Munster Club SFC medal to his collection in 1994 and 1997. [4] He ended his club career with a second Cork SFC medal after a 1-09 to 1–07 win over Clonakilty in 2003. [5]

At inter-county level, Collins first appeared for Cork as a substitute on the minor team that won the Munster MFC title in 1992. [6] He later progressed to the under-21 team and added an All-Ireland U21FC medal to his collection when he was an unused substitute in the defeat of Mayo in the 1994 All-Ireland under-21 final. [7]

Collins joined the senior team for a tournament game in 1994 and later lined out in the National Football League. He made his championship debut in 1996. [8] A series of injuries, including a cruciate ligament injury, hastened the end of his inter-county career. [9]

Coaching career

Collins became involved in team management and coaching following his retirement from playing. He was a selector with the Castlehaven team that won the Cork SFC title in 2012. [10] [11]

Honours

Player

St Fachtna's De La Salle College
Castlehaven
Cork

Management

Castlehaven

References

  1. "West Cork clubs united as St Fachtna's collected the Hogan Cup". Echo Live. 7 April 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  2. "Football heroes who put St Fachtna's de la Salle Skibbereen on the map". The Southern Star. 1 March 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  3. Hurley, Denis (3 October 2015). "How West was won in '94". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  4. "Senior Football (Club)". Munster GAA website. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  5. "Safety for 'Haven after late fright". Irish Independent. 20 October 2003. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  6. "Minor Football". Munster GAA website. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  7. "Cork under-21 football teams: 1962-2010" (PDF). Cork GAA website. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  8. "Collins makes debut in Cork defence". Irish Times. 8 May 1996. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  9. "Football heroes who put St Fachtna's de la Salle Skibbereen on the map". The Southern Star. 1 March 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  10. "Collins looking to relive the glory years". Irish Examiner. 26 October 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  11. Leen, Tony (29 October 2012). "Nolan the hero as Castlehaven dig deep for glorious fourth title". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 15 April 2019.