The talented forward played a key role in helping the Cork minor footballers win the All-Ireland championship title in 2000, the last time the Rebel minors captured the Tom Markam Cup. The West Cork football ace departed shortly afterwards for San Francisco through work. He has firmly embraced his new life living in the USA. "I love living in San Fran. There is a great lifestyle attached to living here. I am here 11 years this February. I finished up playing senior football with Sons of Boru unfortunately recently due to work and family commitments really. I am married with two very young children, aged three and ten months. I am also living outside the city which makes it difficult to attend training sessions on a regular basis. I still play a bit of junior football when I get the chance the odd Sunday. It is still still great to get out and play. You would miss playing it on a regular basis," revealed the former Dohenys wing forward.
The speedy ace who is affectionately known as 'Bonnie', represented San Francisco senior football team Sons of Boru with great distinction during his playing career. John played a key role in helping establish the Sons of Boru team as one of the strongest senior teams in San Francisco. John was recognised for his football talents when as part of an San Francisco All-Star football team, he kicked the first point in the newly redeveloped San Francisco GAA headquarters. "The standard of club football in San Francisco is very good and competitive. We have a lot of former inter-county players, especially players who played for their respective counties at underage grades living and playing football out here. Clubs are also helped by the fact, that during the summer we get a lot of inter-county footballers who are out of championship who travel out here to work and play. We also get a lot of U21 inter-county footballers as well which ensures the standard rises again. It was a lovely moment and honour to score the first point on the new GAA pitch. I was playing for the San Francisco All-Star team against another All-Star select team, it is a nice little memory."
The Collins family have contributed immensely to Dohenys GAA down through the years. Their departures from Dunmanway in recent years have proved a huge blow to the hopes of success for the Dohenys club. John has been joined by three of his brothers in San Francisco. Pat who was playing midfield for the Dohenys until 2014, Finbarr and James a very promising underage player. John is delighted to have his brothers close by. "Three of my four brothers are now out in San Fran. James who is the youngest, is still playing senior football out here. It is very nice to have my family here together since we are so far from home."
The enforced emigration of a plethora of players has thwarted Dohenys considerably in recent years. They have lost a host of players who have travelled overseas such as Alan Sheehan, the Collins twins David and Tom, Ger McCarthy, Sean Lordan and John himself who was widely considered one of the rising stars in Cork football before his move to San Francisco. John lined out on the Dohenys team who narrowly lost the 2006 senior county title against Nemo Rangers. "A lot of Dohenys players have had to travel all over the world through work which has had a big impact on the club. It is very unfortunate that the club has lost some very talented and experienced players who could have played a big role for them in recent years. In 2005, we reached the senior semi-final stage. In 2006 we lost the senior county final. I think that year alone, four of the starting 15 left which is a significant number. Looking back you would be inclined to thank that if we had all stuck around, we could have pushed for a county final in the following years."
John still retains great memories of helping the Cork minor footballers win the All-Ireland title in 2000. "I have great memories of winning the All-Ireland title. We had a very strong team and very good coaches. A lot of that team went on to enjoy good senior careers with Cork. It is a shame that Cork have never won the Tom Markam Cup since. I will always treasure winning an All-Ireland title. I made some great friends. It was an honor to play and win in Croke Park. It was a very special moment bringing the Tom Markam Cup home to Cork and especially to Dunmanway. It was a proud moment for my family and the Dohenys club."
John still keeps abreast of all GAA developments in San Francisco. He is hopeful the Cork footballers will enjoy a strong season under the guidance of new manager Ronan McCarthy. John is thrilled to see his Dohenys club colleague Eoin Lavers make the panel for the National League campaign. "It is great to see Eoin playing. He played in San Fran two years ago for our club in the summer. He is a very good footballer with a good future ahead of him."