Gleeson points to a bright future for Déise

Mount Sion’s Austin Gleeson has been a rising star of the Waterford club scene and is the now the talk of inter-county hurling.

Sunday’s game between Cork and Waterford may not linger in the memory the way previous clashes between the counties have, but there was one clear highlight.

Austin Gleeson’s dazzling solo goal for Waterford in the second half was as good as you’re likely to see in Thurles, as Cork selector Johnny Crowley says elsewhere in these pages today.

For those familiar with the Waterford scene, it was no great shock to see Gleeson adapt so quickly to senior hurling.

Former Waterford star Shane Ahearne can recall a couple of years ago when Mount Sion weren’t going that well in the Waterford championship: “The likes of Ken McGrath and Tony Browne were coming towards the end, and in a championship game against Ballygunner this youngster caught the eye.”

Ahearne was expecting the veterans to step up, but Gleeson “drove the whole thing on”, in his words.

“He was up and down the field, and leading the charge. Only 16, but outstanding. That was his arrival at senior club level.”

Sean Power managed the Waterford minors to last year’s All-Ireland title, with Gleeson at centre-back.

“We were close to putting him up centre-forward towards the end of the minor championship last year,” said Power.

“He’s that kind of player. He’s an intelligent player, you could trust to do the right thing. It’s a big step-up to play senior inter-county championship at 19, but fellas can do it.

“Ken McGrath, Tony Browne, those guys could do it, and I was glad he was able to do it.

“Being young, there’s no baggage. We’d have talked to the minors last year about going for opportunities, to be brave and confident in making their decisions — that’s how you win championships.

“If it works out, great, if it doesn’t, so be it, but you have to have the confidence to go for it.”

Gleeson had the confidence to go for it on Sunday. His goal would be expected to feature on any shortlist for goal of the year.

“In the build-up to it, there was a little side-step from him,” said Power. “If we saw Brian O’Driscoll do that in a Six Nations game we’d be raving about it, but that’s a great skill too.

“I’d never have thought of him as a sprinter — if there was a sprint from the 45 to the end line between himself and Brian O’Sullivan, I’d expect Brian to win it, but Austin showed the Cork backs a clean pair of heels.

“He was gone. I’m delighted for him, he works hard at his game, he’s a good guy and please God he’ll have a long career in the county jersey.”

Where he’ll play eventually is another question. Waterford manager Derek McGrath referred to Gleeson as a future senior centre-back, but Power wasn’t so sure.

“There aren’t too many players who’ve made the transition from half-forward to centre-back at the very top level, but he commands the line well at centre-back, he reads the game very well.

“The centre-back anchors your team, he has the whole field in front of him, and if that’s where Austin ends up, fine, but he’s a talented forward who’s well able to take a score.

“We have a nice few backs there at the minute, and Waterford could do with some new forwards.”

Ahearne pointed to more good news for Waterford: “There was another teenager announced himself for Waterford as well, Tadhg de Burca was very good in the defence, and scored a very good point as well, and might have done an even better job if he’d been shifted back on Alan Cadogan.

“Our lads started to cramp last Sunday — the teenagers. Austin, Tadhg. People might be criticising the fitness levels, but they’re only kids. They don’t have a bank of fitness built up, they’re still growing.”

There are other areas to work on: Power points to Gleeson’s good double block of Cork captain Pa Cronin in the first half, but the Waterford youngster hit a poor wide when he won the ball as a result. “Some of his shots in the first half showed the inexperience,” Ahearne agreed.

“The free at the end showed that too — I think Anthony Nash saw him coming and realised Austin’s momentum was going to take him into the collision and won the free that drew it for Cork.”

Plenty to work on. Plenty of bright days ahead.