‘I NEEDED A BREAK FOR MYSELF’ – REJUVENATED AUSTIN GLEESON SET FOR WATERFORD COMEBACK IN 2025
Austin Gleeson fully intends on returning to the Waterford hurling panel for 2025, he confirmed today. Gleeson also stressed that he sees “no reason” why Davy Fitzgerald won’t be around for a third season as manager of the Déise.
The 2016 Hurler of the Year withdrew from the Waterford squad for this year last September after an injury-blighted 2023, citing a lack of enjoyment and an absence of competitive drive after nearly a decade with the squad.
“When I was took the step back, I didn’t know what was going to be in front of me because I never done it before,” admitted Gleeson, speaking at the launch of Pinergy's new solar partnership with Mount Sion GAA.
“I came straight out of minor into the senior squad. So it was a bit of an unknown for me.
“But no, look, it was always something…I love playing for Waterford. It’s an absolute privilege to be able to play for Waterford. God, there’s numerous people around the county – thousands of people around the county – who would want to put on the Waterford jersey.
“I absolutely loved doing that. It’s just…I needed a break for myself. The body was starting to take a toll on me and mentally, I probably wasn’t there either. It wouldn’t have been fair to management and the other players and myself if I went back last year.”
“To be honest, as soon as championship kicked in and maybe even parts of the league I was like: ‘Yeah, I’d love to go back’. Kind of got that bit of hunger back.
“The aim is to go back, just whether it happens is the other thing.”
Gleeson met with Fitzgerald around the start of March, when the manager made it clear that he would be welcome to return.
“He said the door would be open. But there was never any pressure from him. To be honest, I don’t think I would have got to that championship fitness in that space of time.”
Gleeson admitted to considering whether or not to go to Waterford’s first championship match of the season, a win against Cork in Walsh Park on April 21.
“To be honest, I struggled that morning,” he revealed. “I was humming and hawing whether to go or not. That’s being honest with you. I actually didn’t think it would have as much of an effect on me as it did.
“But maybe it was a good thing in a way that it did have that much of an effect. It meant missed it. It meant that the year out that I took would only be a year. Hopefully get through club and be right going back next year if management want me then.
“But I was delighted. I was talking to a few of them afterwards. They were buzzing. To see the crowd get behind that day was great because Cork travel in numbers.
“There was probably a small bit more Cork at the game. That shouldn’t really be the case, with Waterford having a home match. But the way Cork travel you were maybe expecting it a little bit.
“It was good to win that game. It was huge.”
In a season of fine margins – Waterford drew with Tipperary and lost by just a point to Clare – his presence might have tipped one of those results, which could conceivably have cast the Déise in the knock-out stages of the All-Ireland, possibly even a Munster final.
“A good few people are after saying that to me,” Gleeson admitted. “It could have went the other way. I could have had a nightmare and I could have cost them a couple of points.
“There’s no point trying to look back. You have valued a point or devalued a point. Being up going into injury time and the way it all unfolded. That extra point would have put Waterford through.
“It was just heartbreaking. And then the ’65 against Clare…look, it was a ’65. You could see that as clear as day. But I suppose the thing that angered everyone was that the umpire couldn’t see it.
“Unfortunately it didn’t fall right for Waterford.”
The pinch of sitting out a summer confirmed to Gleeson and urge to return. Otherwise, he reports that the break did him the intended good.
“It was enjoyable for the first couple of months, just relaxing and having no pressure or not running around in the freezing cold and the muck. But when the spring and summer days came in and the championship kicked off, it got a bit tougher.
“But we’re back with the club full hog now as well. It’s nearly the same, the way it’s gone. Your training and your gym. Getting yourself right. I know it’s not as hectic but it’s close to it.
“Suppose the first couple of months were tough but once you got over the first championship game it wasn’t too bad.”
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2024-07-02T11:56:51Z dg43tfdfdgfd