Austin Gleeson set for return to Waterford ranks in 2025
Pictured is Former Waterford Hurler and Mount Sion GAA player, Austin Gleeson alongside Mount Sion Hurlers Ted Browne, Tadhg Sauvage as Pinergy has today announced the switch-on of a new 27.52 kWp solar installation. Photo: INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Former young hurler and hurler of the year Austin Gleeson is set to return to the county jersey in 2025 after the 2016 winner was speaking as part of Pinergy’s sponsorship of Mount Sion GAA as the company is supporting the needs of the club’s current infrastructure and the local community energy grid.
The 29-year-old said that he “fully intends” on returning to the Waterford hurling panel for 2025 on Wednesday last, but little he did know that on the same afternoon Déise boss Davy Fitzgerald was stepping down as manager for the county.
Gleeson, who won the double awards back in 2016, stepped away from the Waterford panel last September after suffering injury whilst also citing a lack of enjoyment and an absence of competitive drive after nearly a decade with the squad.
“When I took the step back, I didn’t know what was going to be in front of me because I never done it before,” said Austin Gleeson when speaking at the launch of Pinergy's new solar partnership with Mount Sion GAA.
“I came straight out of minor into the senior squad. So it was a bit of an unknown for me. But no, look, it was always something. I love playing for Waterford. It’s an absolute privilege to be able to play for Waterford. God, there’s numerous people around the county – thousands of people around the county – who would want to put on the Waterford jersey.
“I absolutely loved doing that. I needed a break for myself. The body was starting to take a toll on me and mentally, I probably wasn’t there either. It wouldn’t have been fair to management and the other players and myself if I went back last year.” “To be honest, as soon as championship kicked in and maybe even parts of the league I was like: ‘Yeah, I’d love to go back’. Kind of got that bit of hunger back. The aim is to go back, just whether it happens is the other thing.”
Gleeson admitted that he met with Fitzgerald around the start of March, when the manager made it clear that he would be welcome to return. “He said the door would be open. But there was never any pressure from him. To be honest, I don’t think I would have got to that championship fitness in that space of time.
“It was enjoyable for the first couple of months, just relaxing and having no pressure or not running around in the freezing cold and the muck. But when the spring and summer days came in and the championship kicked off, it got a bit tougher.
"It has been strange, no point in lying. Not being in Carriganore or Dungarvan with the lads, training with them a couple of days a week - it has been strange, but I can't lie, I've enjoyed the break. I feel like it's something that I needed.
"Taking the break really recovered that drive that I was hoping for. That was the biggest thing that I was hoping for out of the break was to want to hold a hurley again. I feel like I've got that back. We’re back with the club full hog now as well. It’s nearly the same, the way it’s gone. Your training and your gym. Getting yourself right. I know it’s not as hectic but it’s close to it.
"The mindset is in a good place. The more injury-free I stay, the fitter I get and the more confidence I get and stuff like that. That's what I'm hoping for, to stay injury-free. Stay injury-free for the club and I just feel like if I stay injury-free, the fitness will come and then the hurling will flow and then I'll just start getting that drive and that love again because I was just picking up regular injuries, coming back from an injury, getting another one, and that just drove me insane, to be honest. So, that's the aim, is just to have all that."
