Eoin Cadogan: Mercy plea unlikely to save Austin Gleeson

Cadogan suspects reference from an opponent would be of limited value, based on his experience of missing the 2011 Allianz Football League final.

27 March 2022; Austin Gleeson of Waterford leaves the field after being sent off during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Semi-Final match between Wexford and Waterford at UPMC Nowlan Park in Kilkenny. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile

Eoin Cadogan hopes Austin Gleeson gets a reprieve to feature against Cork in next Saturday’s Allianz Hurling League final. But based on his own experience of suspension for a league decider, Cadogan expects the Waterford star to miss out.

Gleeson was sent off late in Sunday’s comprehensive semi-final win over Wexford, following an off-the-ball altercation with Simon Donohue. His automatic ban will see him miss the final unless Waterford are successful with an appeal — after Sunday’s game, Déise boss Liam Cahill indicated they would explore that option.