Club
Collins began his club hurling career with Castlehaven, however, a move to Cork city resulted in a transfer to Blackrock.
In 1971 he lined out in his first senior decider as Blackrock faced St. Finbarr's. After a decade in the doldrums the Rockies were back and a 2-19 to 5-4 victory secured a championship medal for Collins. Blackrock subsequently represented Cork in the provincial series of games and faced Moyne-Templetuohy in the decider. An impressive 4-10 to 3-1 victory gave Collins a Munster medal. The subsequent All-Ireland decider pitted Blackrock against Rathnure. A high-scoring game followed, however, a narrow 5-13 to 6-9 victory gave Collins a coveted All-Ireland medal.
Blackrock surrendered their club, provincial and All-Ireland decider the following year, however, in 1973 Collins lined out in a second county championship final. A 2-12 to 2-10 defeat of Glen Rovers gave him a second championship medal. A subsequent two-point defeat of Newmarket-on-Fergus in the provincial decider gave Collins a second Munster medal. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Blackrock against Rathnure. A rousing draw was followed by a great replay. Superb late goals by Collins and Éamonn O'Donoghue secured a 3-8 to 1-9 victory and a second All-Ireland medal for Collins.
Once again back-to-back championship titles eluded the Rockies, however, a 4-11 to 0-10 defeat of Glen Rovers in 1975 gave Collins a third championship medal. He later added a third Munster medal to his collection following a decisive 8-12 to 3-8 defeat of Mount Sion. Kilkenny's James Stephen provided the opposition in the subsequent All-Ireland final. Five points down at half-time, the Kilkenny club came storming back and defeated Collins's side by 2-10 to 2-4.
It was 1978 before Collins enjoyed his next success. A 4-12 to 1-7 defeat of Glen Rovers gave him a fourth championship medal. Once again the Rockies stormed through the provincial championship and defeated Newmarket-on-Fergus by two goals, giving Collins a fourth Munster medal. The All-Ireland final saw Cork take on Kilkenny again. This time it was Blackrock versus Ballyhale Shamrocks. Ray Cummins scored two goals in rapid succession in the opening thirty minutes to put Blackrock in the driving seat. At the full-time whistle Blackrock were the winners by 5-7 to 5-5, giving Collins a third All-Ireland medal.
A 2-14 to 2-6 defeat of St. Finbarr's in 1979 gave Collins his fifth and final championship medal. It was the first time that Blackrock had won back-to-back championships in almost fifty years. He later picked up a fifth Munster medal following a 0-13 to 1-8 defeat of Dunhill.
A move to Kilkenny saw Collins join the James Stephens club. In 1982 he came on as a substitute in the All-Ireland final as the village club faced Mount Sion. A 3-13 to 3-8 victory gave Collins a record fourth All-Ireland medal.
Read more about this topic: Donie Collins, Playing Career
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