After ten years managing the Clare senior footballers, Colm Collins' decision to end his tenure brought the curtain down on what was a prouductive era, with many far and wide paying tribute to the Cratloe clubman.
During his reign, Collins guided the Banner from Division 4 to Division 2 in the league, getting them to within a whisker of making the top flight. There was also an All-Ireland quarter-final appearance in 2016 and last month a date with Kerry in the provincial decider.
That clash with Kerry guaranteed a place in the All-Ireland series. Clare may not have won a game but they were competitive, with last Saturday's clash against Derry ending a campaign where they also dropped down to Division 3, this after a few narrow defeats.
Shortly after the loss to Derry at Glennon Bros Pearse Park, Collins announced that that was it.
"I've done my term and it's time for somebody else to take up the baton now," he told RTÉ Sport.
"I think there's a fabulous group of players there and I'm looking forward to watching them without the thumping of the heart."
"He's a winner. He changed the attitude"
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 17, 2023
Tomás Ó Sé sums up the impressive tenure of Clare's outgoing senior football manager Colm Collins
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Collins' indent on Clare football was captured eloquently in a tweet from player Eoin Cleary that said: "As the old saying goes, we were never playing for Clare we were playing for Colm Collins".
In an Irish Examiner article, former Banner star Gary Brennan highlighted the efforts that his former manager would go to, on and off the pitch, to to further drive football in the county.
Speaking on the latest RTÉ GAA Podcast, Collins was grateful for the many kind words afforded to him and spoke about his decision to call time on a decade managing his county.
"A lot of lovely messages, people have been very kind," he said.
"I was prepared for it [stepping down] for a good while now, once the results went the way they did in the league I knew I was going to step down. It's a bit unusual, last night was the first free Wednesday night I had in a long, long time. I'm sure I'll get used to that.
"I didn't hear half [the messages] of it because I'm not big into social media. I missed a lot of it only that somebody might send me something. I was touched by a lot of the stuff that was said. My wife said that she didn't recognise who they were talking about!"
And while Collins no doubt endured the many stresses that goes with inter-county management, overseeing the fortunes of his beloved was also a labour of love for him.
"It was complete enjoyment," he reflected.
"I have a massive interest in football, in Clare football, and I was always involved from underage and up along. I was never not involved.
"I always felt that if you could get 20 players and have them working in the same direction there was a lot you could achieve. Our brief from the very start was to give the fellas the best chance they could to achieve what they wanted to achieve. Obviously the bar is higher in other counties but incrementally we tried to improve things.
"When you start to improve things and start to compete with the better teams you can start rising the bar again. Hopefully the next person coming in will drive it on.
"All you need is 20 dedicated players really interested and everybody pulling together in the backroom and the county board. It was the most enjoyable time in that sense. If any of this was a headache, you get your headaches in life normally through work and interactions, but this was never a headache, it was a really pleasant experience."
Also on the Podcast was All-Ireland winner and former Kerry manager Éamonn Fitzmaurice.
He highlighted the progress Collins made during his time at the helm and recalled a Munster clash against Clare.
"They very nearly caught us in Cusack Park in 2014 and we went on to win the All-Ireland afterwards".
He continued: "I think there is national appreciation of what Colm achieved. He certainly left Clare football in a better place then when he found it."
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Watch the All-Ireland Hurling Championship quarter-finals, Dublin v Clare and Galway v Tipperary, on Saturday from 3.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app or listen to live updates on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
Watch Galway v Mayo in the All-Ireland Football Championship on Sunday from 3pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app or listen to live updates on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
Watch the Tailteann Cup semi-finals, Down v Laois and Meath v Antrim, on Sunday from 1.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app or listen to live updates on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
