Cork v Limerick: Rebels' goalkeeper Patrick Collins unfazed by the external noise

When Cork beat Limerick in May 2024 to keep their championship campaign alive, the 3-28 to 3-26 victory was founded upon a strong puckout strategy.

If they are to upset the odds at TUS Gaelic Grounds tomorrow evening, a similar level of success will be needed and goalkeeper Patrick Collins will have a big part to play in helping to arm the attacking artillery.

The Ballinhassig man, a Garda, is in his 11th year on the panel and became first-choice in 2021 following the retirement of Anthony Nash. Naturally, he has seen immense changes in the role of the netminder.

“It’s evolved hugely,” he says.

“When I first came in to now, it has changed massively. It has become a quarterback role, in my opinion. You are putting people in the best positions possible.

“Obviously there is a huge emphasis on puckouts these days. The day for pucking the ball long and hoping for the best is gone, really. You are trying to play the percentage game, if you can. It is not always possible.

“Your core values are still your shot-stopping, your touch, your control, your handling. It is kind of a quarterback feel that you are trying to find space here and there.

“That is one of the main reasons I like it; it is a challenging position. I moved on with the times, really.”

The puckout record is something that will always draw comment – for Collins, it’s a case of trying not to listen to too much of it.

“It’s a team game,” he says. “it’s a linkup between me and the lads.

“If the lads move and I don't hit them, then that's on me; if I hit it and they don't move, that's on them. But it is just natural that the focus does come back to the goalkeeper, that's just the way it is, and you have to have the mental strength to keep on going and take it on the chin, really.”

That’s what he did last year after Cork lost their opening two games to Waterford and Clare before things started to turn. He, the team and the Rebel faithful will hope that tomorrow can prove to be a similar springboard.

“I'd be good at keeping the outside noise out,” he says.

“I wouldn't take much heed to what people are saying or what is being said about what way we playing or what way the puckouts are going. I know myself what way they are going.

“Again, it just to work on the different bits at training as best you can and improve each time you go out. They are not going to be perfect every day, but you are always trying to get better, you are always trying to make some sort of tweaks here and there.

“The first two games, yeah they would have been down, but when it went to the Limerick game, things started to improve as time went on.”