MARK COLLINS HAS become the latest Cork footballer to be drafted in to Jimmy Barry-Murphy’s Rebel senior hurling squad ahead of Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final against Tipperary.
Collins has been brought in to the extended Cork hurling panel in the wake of the footballers exit from the championship at the hands of Mayo last Sunday week. Cork selector Johnny Crowley confirmed the news to the Evening Echo today.
Collins has previous hurling experience with Cork having played for the county minor side in 2008 when he won a Munster medal before losing out to Galway at the All-Ireland semi-final stage. Current Cork senior hurlers Darren McCarthy, Aidan Walsh, William Egan, Jamie Coughlan and Luke O’Farrell were all part of that squad.
In 2010, Collins featured on the Cork team that lost to Tipperary in the Munster U21 semi-final after extra-time. McCarthy, Stephen McDonnell, Conor O’Sullivan, Egan, Lorcán McLoughlin, Daniel Kearney, Conor Lehane and O’Farrell were amongst his teammates that night.
Tipperary, who won by 2-17 to 0-21 in that game, included Padraic, Brendan and Patrick Maher in their side along with Michael Cahill, James Barry, John O’Dwyer and Noel McGrath.
In recent times Collins has played hurling in the Cork senior championship for his club Douglas featuring alongside Eoin and Alan Cadogan, and Stephen Moylan. He joins fellow dual players Damien Cahalane, Walsh and the Cadogan brothers in the hurling ranks.
