Austin Gleeson has made a decision on his Waterford future after taking year out

Austin Gleeson has confirmed his intention to return to the Waterford colours again after sitting out the 2024 campaign.

The 2017 Hurler of the Year told manager Davy Fitzgerald in the 2023 close season that he would be taking time away from inter-county hurling to recharge the batteries and, having done so, the 29-year-old says he’s fully refuelled and raring to go again next year - if wanted by the management.

Gleeson also revealed that he had a mid-season sitdown with Fitzgerald where the opportunity to return was dangled in front of him but, ultimately, he opted against it.

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“As soon as Championship kicked in, and maybe even parts of the League, I was like, I'd love to go back,” he explained. “Got that bit of hunger back again.

“Couldn't even go back out on the field with the club until around March, so it was six or seven months since I had held a hurley, so getting it back in the hand was good.

“I am enjoying the time with the club. Obviously, there's a few moments where you go, ‘Here we go again in terms of the training and pre-season’ and stuff like that.

“But I am really enjoying it. The aim is to go back. Whether it happens now is the other thing now.”

The Mount Sion man admitted that Waterford’s Championship opener against Cork, which they won in Walsh Park, was particularly difficult for him.

“To be honest, I struggled that morning. 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.”

While the initial intention was to take a year out, there were no guarantees at the time that Gleeson would want to go back beyond that.

He explained: “When I was took the step back, I didn’t know what was going to be in front of me because I had never done it before. 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.”

Austin Gleeson alongside Mount Sion Hurlers Ted Browne, Tadhg Sauvage as Pinergy has today announced the switch-on of a new 27.52 kWp solar installation on the roof of Mount Sion GAA Club. This partnership sees Mount Sion GAA Club’s energy needs met by the installation with excess energy being exported to back to the electricity grid to supply the local community in Waterford City.
(Image: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne)

In the spring, he met with Fitzgerald, who said “the door would be open, if I wanted to even just come in and see the lads”, but Gleeson declined.

“I think it would have been a small bit of a waste because I just don't think I would got to that Championship fitness in that space of time.

“Probably would have ended up injured again after trying to push in that short space of time to get to that Championship fitness. It probably just wouldn't have happened.”

As of now, there is no confirmation as to whether Fitzgerald will remain in charge of Waterford in 2025 though, having shipped criticism during the League, Gleeson feels the Clare man has a mandate to continue in the role after the team performed well in the Championship, despite narrowly failing to qualify from the Munster group.

“I don't see a reason why he wouldn't be there. Look at the Championship, there are possibly four minutes, maybe even less between the end game against Tipp and the 65 against Clare, that cost them a place in the Munster final, or at least a knockout game.

“All in together, I can't see why not. It is most successful round-robin that Waterford have ever had this year. I don't see why people want to get rid of him is the main thing I am saying.”

Of course, a player of Gleeson’s talent could have made all the difference when the margins were so tight, especially against Tipperary and Clare.

“A good few people are after saying that to me. 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.”

Austin Gleeson was speaking at the announcement of a link-up between his club, Mount Sion, and Pinergy with the switch-on of a new 27.52 kWp solar installation.

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