By Cian O’Connell

Colm Collins is still going strong. On a wet and wild Sunday afternoon at the start of February with Allianz Football League points the craved prize, Clare eke out a win over Kildare.

Perhaps at the end of the year it will be forgotten, but for a couple of hours in Cusack Park everything seemed on the line. Clare have fought hard under Collins to navigate their way through the divisions so this game was loaded with relevance.

Suffering a second defeat wasn’t an option Clare wanted to explore. Instead Clare had the guile to carve out a victory.

“Consistency is going to be important and it is important that the passion is available,” Collins admits ahead of next weekend’s tussle against Roscommon at Dr Hyde Park.

“Traditionally Clare teams were never lacking in passion, they always gave it all. It is very important that continues and that we play clever football too.”

Clare most certainly accomplished that mission in Ennis against the Lilywhites. From 18 shots a winning total of 0-11 was registered. A couple of those were in the dying embers when seeking to put the ball dead.

So it was effective display with Clare’s conversion of five from their first six second half efforts raising white flags illustrating real efficiency.

“That we don't give the ball away too easily and that we shoot from the right places,” Collins adds.

“Consistency is vital. Next Sunday we are going to the Hyde. It is important that we get a serious performance from the lads there and that we build on the Kildare win. I'm confident that we will do that.”

Throughout his tenure Collins has adapted to the plethora of challenges faced. Gary Brennan and Jamie Malone’s unavailability at the outset of 2020 could offer an excuse, but that isn’t how Collins operates.

Instead Collins chooses to focus on those returning to the fold, including Keelan Sexton, who decorated a dynamic display against Kildare with four gorgeous points.

“That is the nature of it,” Collins says. “I would be very happy with what we have, we have four established players, who weren't available to us against Meath last year.

“We have four new players in really, so we aren't complaining. We are very happy with the group of players we have.

“It was just to get the two points, it was very important on Sunday - after losing the first day - that we did win.”

Collins doesn’t get too hung up on the maths and equations in Division Two. The focus is merely on the next game. It is a policy which has served Clare well, the present is what matters most of all.

“I think that approach where you just take each game as it comes,” Collins states. “The only time we will worry about whether we are looking up or down is at the end of the League, whatever happens in Roscommon.

“Hopefully we will get the same response we got last Sunday from the players. All credit to them, they fought really hard, but to a man they played really well. Hopefully they will bring that game to the Hyde on Sunday, to get another good peformance.

“We don't have any issues with the group of players we have. I think we have got an excellent group. We have the 15 starters and plenty of other players who can come in to help us out. We are delighted with the players we have absolutely.”

Another area which pleases Collins is the backroom team which has been assembled. Different coaches and selectors have worked with Collins during his lengthy time on the inter-county beat.

“I know that in the media there is a focus on the manager, but the manager will achieve nothing unless he is surrounded by really good people,” Collins admits.

“That victory on Sunday had the fingerprints of all these people on it. From Rob Mulcahy, who is an excellent S&C coach to Declan O'Keeffe, who has done a tremendous job with the goalkeeping situation. Brian Carson, Declan Downes, and Enda Coughlan, who are all involved in coaching the team.

“All those people take credit. Players go out on the pitch and they represented the group well on Sunday, but all these people do tremendous work behind the scenes.

“Without them we'd have nothing. Sunday was a day where they could look back to see their hard work coming to fruition on the pitch.”

Having operated at various levels of the game, Collins acknowledges the importance of choosing carefully. Trusting a gut feeling often leads to a substantial working relationship.

“You just meet people, I know in Brian's case I had a lot of dealings with him as coach with UL's Sigerson team,” Collins continues.

“I knew what I was getting there. Obviously Declan O'Keeffe same story. I knew what I was getting there, it wasn't any shock. Rob Mulcahy - I was looking for an S&C coach, I had arranged four or five interviews. After I met Rob I just cancelled the rest, he was just such an impressive candidate.

“He has done a tremendous job. All these people like Enda Coughlan, who played on the team and is now involved in the coaching side, Declan Downes, these guys are all fantastic. They focus in on different things and they do a tremendous job.

“The players as a group have embraced it, they are working so hard. It is nice when it works out. The first Sunday the result went against us by a point - a loss. Thankfully against Kildare the result went our way.”

Matches arrive thick and fast at this time of the year. Collins is ready, willing, and able to deal with the considerable tasks. “I think every team in the country knows the schedule and knows what they have got to do,” Collins replies.

“Sunday is over and then we focus totally on Roscommon. That is the only thing that matters to us now - Roscommon.”