Patrick Collins (hurler)

Patrick Collins (born 12 September 1996) is an Irish hurler who plays as a goalkeeper for club side Ballinhassig, university side Cork Institute of Technology and at inter-county level with the Cork senior hurling team.

Early life
Collins was born and raised in Ballinhassig, County Cork. His father, Pat Collins, began the family's association with goalkeeping by lining in that position for the Ballinhassig club. Collins's brothers, Michael, Matthew and Ger, have all lined out for Cork in various grades of hurling, while his sister, Caitríona, won an All-Ireland ICC title with the Cork intermediate camogie team in 2018.

Collins first played hurling to a high standard as a student at Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh in Bishopstown. He later studied at Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) and won an All-Ireland Division 1 Freshers' HC title in 2016 after a defeat of Dublin City University in the final. Collins later progressed to CIT's Fitzgibbon Cup team.

Club career
Collins began his club hurling career at juvenile and underage levels with Ballinhassig. He won a Southeast U21AHC title in 2015 after scoring 1-07 from full-forward in the 2-16 to 2-12 defeat of Carrigaline in the final. By that stage Collins had already joined Ballinhassig's senior team, having made his debut in 2013.

Inter-county career
Collins was just 15-years-old when he first played for Cork as a member of the minor team in 2012. His three years in the grade ended without success. Collins was 16-years-old and in his second season as a minor when he made his debut with the under-21 team. He was in goal when Cork lost the 2014 Munster U21 final to Clare by 1-28 to 1-13. Collin's five-year association with the under-21 team ended with a two-point defeat by Limerick in the 2017 Munster U21 final.

Collins was just out of the minor grade when he was drafted onto the senior team by manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy in advance of the 2015 season. He was third-choice goalkeeper behind Anthony Nash and Darren McCarthy and made his debut in a preliminary round defeat of the University of Limerick in the pre-season Waterford Crystal Cup in January 2015. Collin's first National Hurling League appearance came in a one-point defeat by Kilkenny in March 2016.

Collins eventually became second-choice goalkeeper and understudy to Nash. He won consecutive Munster SHC medals as a non-playing substitute in 2017 and 2018, following consecutive defeats of Clare in the finals. Nash's inter-county retirement at the end of the 2020 season resulted in Collins becoming first-choice goalkeeper. In August 2021, he lined out in goal when Cork suffered a 3–32 to 1–22 defeat by Limerick in the 2021 All-Ireland final. Collins was again in goal when Cork lost the 2022 National League final to Waterford.

Honours

 * Cork Institute of Technology
 * All-Ireland Division 1 Freshers' Hurling Championship: 2016


 * Ballinhassig
 * South-East Under-21 A Hurling Championship: 2015


 * Cork
 * Munster Senior Hurling Championship: 2017, 2018