Laois' Niall Collins NAME: Niall Collins DATE OF BIRTH: 23-10-78 HEIGHT: 5' 11" WEIGHT: 11st 10lbs CLUB: Portlaoise COUNTY: Laois NOTABLE SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS (GAELIC): All-Ireland Under 14 Feile with Portlaoise; All-Ireland Minor with Laois 1996; Under 16 South Leinster Colleges with Patrician Ballyfin 1997; Senior South Leinster Colleges with Patrician Ballyfin 1997; Senior Leinster Colleges with Patrician Ballyfin 1997 NOTABLE SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS (OTHER): Gymnastics - 8 titles; Leinster Express Sportsstar of the Year 1992; Olympic panel member; Athletics - 2 All-Ireland relay titles 4 x 400 and 4 x 100 INTERCOUNTY DEBUT: Under 16 v Offaly 1994, O'Connor Park, Tullamore TOUGHEST OPPONENT: Shane O'Donnell (Donegal) FAVOURITE GROUNDS: Dr. Cullen Park (Carlow), Croke Park HOBBIES: Horse racing, swimming, surfing, canoeing FAVOURITE POSITION: Right half back FAVOURITE PLAYERS: Trevor Giles (Meath), Ciaran O'Sullivan (Cork), Ian Fitzgerald (Laois), Stephen O'Brien (Cork) INFLUENCES ON YOUR CAREER: Gabriel Lawlor (former Laois minor team manager); Niall Tully (football coach in Ballyfin College) THE HIGH POINT OF YOUR CAREER TO DATE: Winning All-Ireland with Laois minors 1996 BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Losing against Roscommon CBS, All-Ireland Colleges semi final 1997 OTHER PLAYERS WITH A PROMISING FUTURE: Steven Kelly (Laois), Brian McDonald (Laois), Colm Parkinson (Portlaoise and Laois), Tomas O Se (Kerry), Kevin Fitzpatrick (Laois), Martin Delaney (Laois), Shane O'Donnell (Donegal) WAYS OF IMPROVING THE GAME: More consistent refereeing, more funding for underage football DO YOU HAVE ANY RELATIVES INVOLVED IN GAELIC GAMES?: Uncle Barry Henriques (GAA commentator with Radio Kilkenny), Frank Stockwell (All-Ireland medal winner with Galway in the 50s) PERSON YOU WOULD MOST LIKE TO MEET: Any Sultan's daughter! PET HATES: People talking bull! FAVOURITE MUSIC: Any dance music FAVOURITE FILM: Platoon IDEAL DATE: Natasha Henstridge (Species) HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED? As a member of Portlaoise and Laois teams that capture All-Ireland titles Taken from Hogan Stand magazine 19th September 1997 Vol 7 No 38 Tweet

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