Neil Collins is a cut from a different cloth to your regular footballer.
Then Roscommon full-back may be your typically no-nonsense defender when he crosses the whitewash, but it is his interests outside of football that make him one of the most interesting GAA figures around.
The St. Brigids Castleknock player is currently studying for a Masters in Fashion in Dublin, and working for Brown Thomas, which is a bit different to the stereotype of teacher, builder or blocklayer that makes up a huge amount of GAA teams.
Collins admits his job is not what many fans expect when they meet him, but it has never affected his sporting interests.
In fact, he thinks no-one really cares what he does, once he performs for Roscommon.
“I would say my lifestyle outside of sport is quite different. I guess I have to be very current in my interests outside sport because that’s the industry I’m in.
“I’d say my lifestyle is quite different, but when I come back to playing with Roscommon I try and be as conservative as possible and get it done, which is challenging as well.
“It’s nobody’s issue to be honest; nobody really cares what I do outside as long as I’m quite focused when playing football.
Collins respects and admires how former Kerry footballer Paul Galvin has launched his own clothing brand and he is also looking to bring his own designs with Cryptic Clique to market.
Unfortunately, Collins he didn’t get a chance to indulge in his day job while in New York recently for Roscommon.
Matters fashion related had to wait on the cutting room floor as he tended to getting Roscommon’s Connacht campaign off to a winning start in the Bronx.
Speaking at the AIB GAA All Ireland Senior Football Championship Launch, the defender admits only escaping from Manhattan by the smallest of margins was a frightening experience.
“We had a number of goal chances to finish the game off but we didn’t score any of them in the second half. That kept New York in it and all of a sudden having missed all of those opportunities that would have allowed us coast to a finish the gap was closing.
“It ended up with a one-point victory. It was tight, we just didn’t close out the game early enough and that allowed them to stick in there.”
This week the Connacht holders Mayo begin their bid for six titles in-a-row. They face London in Ruislip, a venue that Roscommon got to experience last year.
Collins feel the London venue is an odd place to go, and that while Mayo should win well, there is always the chance of an upset if players allow the strange atmosphere Collins’ experienced affect them.
“We played in Ruislip last year and it’s a difficult place to go play a game where people are out socialising and not massively interested in the actual game.
“It’s a difficult atmosphere – even when you are going over there you are doing a good bit of travelling to get to the game.
“You are just waiting for a game for a couple of days beforehand, the same as us in New York. So it can be a strange preparation for a game but ultimately you still fancy yourself to get the job done.
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