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Collins: won his first senior All-Ireland at the age of 21 last year. Ken Sutton/INPHO

How is Clare star Podge Collins handling his dual demands?

Cratloe youngster is “a valuable asset” in both codes, says Banner team-mate Brendan Bugler.

BRENDAN BUGLER SAYS his Clare team-mate Podge Collins has played the dual game to perfection.

After winning his first All-Ireland hurling title last year, the Cratloe youngster joined the Banner footballers — managed by his dad Colm — and helped them clinch promotion to Division 3 of the National Football League.

At the same time he’s played an active part in Clare’s run to the hurling league semis, where they face Tipperary on 20 April.

Bugler said: “He’s a lively character. I think he’s juggled it really well and both managements have handled it very well.

He’s never been over-trained and that’s important.

The footballers’ final league engagement comes when they face Tipp in the Division 4 final on 26 April. Once that’s done, Bugler expects hurling to be Collins’s main focus when the respective championships begin.

“Obviously Podge and Colm’s main thing was for the footballers to get promoted this year and that’s done now. After the football final I’d say he’ll be in with us for the majority of the rest of the year. I think that was the arrangement made.

He’s a valuable asset to both teams and a unique talent.

“I played a bit of football with him and I know what he’s like as a footballer.

“Both managements have handled him well and deserve great credit for it.”

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