Austin Gleeson set to miss Déise’s Limerick clash

Austin Gleeson is a doubt for Waterford’s Division 1B opener away to Limerick on Saturday. 

The Mount Sion star picked up a groin injury during WIT’s Fitzgibbon Cup first-round clash against IT Carlow two weeks ago and has been sidelined since.

Gleeson operated at centre-back for the county team during their pre-season fixtures.

Manager Derek McGrath must plan without seven players for the trip to the Gaelic Grounds. Six of those featured in last year’s championship.

Experienced midfielder Shane O’Sullivan will miss out due to a hamstring injury while Darragh Fives, Colin Dunford, Maurice Shanahan, Ryan Donnelly, Stephen Daniels and Eddie Barrett are all long-term absentees and some are unlikely to return to action until the middle of March.

The Déise exited the Waterford Crystal Cup to TJ Ryan’s side in their last competitive outing four weeks ago but they fitted in challenge games against Tipperary and Clare ahead of Saturday’s rematch. 15 panel members have juggled commitments in recent weeks with their college sides.

“We have been trying to mix and match, in terms of the Fitzgibbon games,” McGrath explains.

“We are a bit different to other counties, in that we have six or seven involved with UCC and seven involved with WIT.”

McGrath added: “We are very happy with our preparations. The boys are after putting in a sustained effort and we are very united as a group. They are just trying to do their best for their county each time they go out and it will be no different on Saturday night.”