By Declan Whooley
Whatever the outcome of Sunday’s Allianz Hurling final, Austin Gleeson is confident that Waterford’s momentum is showing no signs of slowing down.
Derek McGrath’s defending champions are 70 minutes away from just a fourth national hurling title and cementing their reputation as serious All-Ireland contenders.
Kilkenny put paid to All-Ireland ambitions at the penultimate stage when talk of a League and Championship double became more of a distinct possibility.
The emphasis on keeping clean sheets and fluid inter-changing of positions has been the talk of the hurling terraces and nobody epitomises the ‘Waterford way’ quite like Gleeson.
The Mount Sion star has established himself in the number six jersey at club level, but in the blue and white of Waterford his is liable to cover any line of the pitch bar between the sticks.
"I’m thoroughly enjoying my hurling now. I have no complaints going from county to club and back again"
Gleeson, who is poised to line out against the Banner for the first time at senior level when the sides meet in Thurles (3.30pm, live blog on RTÉ.ie), picked up 14 points during the league campaign despite regularly starting with a defender’s number on his back.
Following the semi-final victory over Limerick, the 20-year-old admitted he enjoyed the free role afforded in the team, but where is his preferred position?
“It’s a question I’m asked a lot, but I still don’t properly know the answer,” he told RTÉ Sport before explaining why he finds inter-county level more comfortable than club.
“I put too much pressure on myself at club level to perform maybe than with Waterford. If you don’t play well, there’s 15, 18 other players that are going to turn up.
“The club are relying on you more."
The team spirit fostered by McGrath is reaping its rewards and Gleeson admits the bond between the players and management is something they place great value in.
Last year Maurice Shanahan shocked the public after he revealed the crippling nature of his depression that led to suicidal thoughts.
The gifted forward returned to action claim an All Star, but speaking at the League Final preview in Croke Park, Gleeson admitted the bond in camp helped everyone concerned during those difficult times.
“When it all came out, people were in total shock,” he said. “Derek [McGrath], and Dan [Shanhan] were brilliant in keeping us all together,” he said.
“It was emotional. I only knew Maurice four, five months and it was hard enough. I can’t even begin to describe what it was like for the people playing with him for the past 10 years, what they were feeling.
Shanahan’s return against Antrim, where he received a standing ovation from the supporters at Walsh Park was “hair on the back moment”.
“He’s a massive player for us. He’s not Dan’s brother, he’s Maurice now.”
Between club, county and college commitments, the third year WIT Business student has his hands full juggling his respective commitments.
He missed the Waterford team holiday to Malaga last year because of the U21 Championship, which as luck would have it, was subsequently cancelled.
Some observers and former players believe that the game has become too professional in its demands, but Gleeson says despite a busy calendar – he went straight from last year’s All-Ireland semi-final defeat against Kilkenny into club action before returning back to Waterford at the start of the year – he is happy with his lot.
“You would notice that there is no break, but the U21 team gave me some leeway.
“I don’t know about other players, but I’m thoroughly enjoying my hurling now. I have no complaints going from county to club and back again.
“I’m only around the corner from college, and only around the corner for training, so it’s not as taxing as maybe it is for other lads.”
Waterford’s approach under McGrath continues to fascinate and only the all-conquering Cats put a stop to the youthful team last season.
The upward curve shows no signs of slowing down and Gleeson admits that it can be difficult for those outside the camp to fully understand the game-plan they are sticking to.
“It’s extremely hard for people outside the panel and background team to know exactly what is going on,” he said.
“Family members might turn around and say, ‘What are you doing this for?’
“You’re trying to say there’s a reason behind it all. If it doesn’t work, it could work another day. If you stick to it, and it eventually works, they might say, ‘Ye did something different today’
“Then you’re saying that we did nothing different, it just worked for us. It’s hard now for those outside the circle to see what’s going on.”
