His father, Pat Collins, began the family's association with goalkeeping by lining in that position for the Ballinhassig club.
[2][3] Collins first played hurling to a high standard as a student at Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh in Bishopstown.
[4] He later studied at Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) and won an All-Ireland Division 1 Freshers' HC title in 2016 after a defeat of Dublin City University in the final.
[13] Collins was just out of the minor grade when he was drafted onto the senior team by manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy in advance of the 2015 season.
He was third-choice goalkeeper behind Anthony Nash and Darren McCarthy and made his debut in a preliminary round defeat of the University of Limerick in the pre-season Waterford Crystal Cup in January 2015.