Gleeson a familiar face to squad

WHEN Tipperary selector Michael Gleeson walked into the senior dressing-room for the first time, there were a plethora of familiar faces.

Between county minor teams and involvement with his club Thurles Sarsfields, 16 members of the Premier senior squad had passed under Gleeson’s watch.

In 2007, Gleeson was a selector on the Tipperary minor team that swept to All-Ireland honours against Cork with Padraic Maher, John Coghlan, Michael Cahill, Brendan Maher, Noel McGrath, Seamus Hennessy, Sean Carey, John O’Neill, Patrick Maher and Michael Heffernan all starters in Croke Park. Éire Óg Nenagh’s Paddy Murphy was introduced as a substitute during that game.

The following year in 2008, Gleeson was once more involved with the Tipperary minors yet their campaign came to a halt in the All-Ireland semi-final against Kilkenny. McGrath, Murphy and O’Neill were all involved in that panel along with Brian O’Meara.

At club level, Gleeson has been at the helm as Thurles Sarsfields have claimed the past two Tipperary senior county titles, defeating Drom-Inch in 2009 and Clonoulty-Rossmore last October. Lar Corbett, Pa Bourke, Gleeson’s own son Michael and Stephen Lillis were involved under Gleeson’s tutelage in those teams.