Waterford legend Gleeson admits regrets as he confirms intercounty retirement

"I’m fully done now," the 31-year-old says.

TALISMAN: Austin Gleeson says his time with Waterford is over. Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Austin Gleeson says he regrets not 'looking after himself' a little better during his stellar intercounty hurling career, but is content in calling time on his time as a Waterford player. 

The 2016 hurler and young hurler of the year was last week confirmed as part of a group of Déise stars not included in Stephen Molumphy's 2027 panel.  

Gleeson had been in and out of the squad over the past couple of seasons under Peter Queally. 

The Mount Sion star had stepped away from the panel in 2024.

"I’m fully done now," 31-year-old Gleeson told Off The Ball's Eoin Sheehan on Thursday night, when asked if it was a case of never-say-never.

"Looking back at it ! probably didn't look after my body in my early 20s or mid 20s and I’m probably paying the price for it now," he explained.

"And then miles on the clock and just just getting getting older."

"I know a lot of lads that would do recovery sessions and I felt 'no in grand'," the Mount Sion man added. "And I only started doing them in recent years. Gym-wise, I wouldn't have been first in and last out of the gym, I just liked to get in, get it done, and it wouldn’t have been my favourite thing to do.

"And then the offseason, it was probably well documented. I didn't look after myself in the offseasons as well as I should have.

"So yeah, there are regrets 100% but I'm fairly content in stepping away now, but I do wish that I did look after myself a bit more, seven or eight years ago and that I could have prolonged it for another year or two."