Davy Fitzgerald says he regrets coaxing Austin Gleeson into playing with Waterford in 2023. The 2016 Hurler of the Year confirmed to the Irish Examiner on Tuesday that he will be taking a break from inter-county hurling next year.
"Let's just say that for definite, he’s one of the best players I have seen over a number of years," Fitzgerald told Radio Kerry's Stand Out with Ian O'Connell on Wednesday.
'We probably forced Austin Gleeson back last year'
"His talent is incredible. But the big thing for me about Austin is he’s actually a really nice guy - he’s a good guy.
13 May 2023; Austin Gleeson of Waterford arrives before the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 3 match between Waterford and Clare at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
"We probably forced Austin back last year to be part of the panel and I don’t think Austin really wanted to be there himself.
"I think he needed a break and we forced him and the last thing you should do is force someone because you’re pushing them to do extra stuff, they get injured easier. I think you have to be 100 per cent ready to go if you’re there.
"Austin has been around a long time and maybe I should have listened to him when he said he needed a break.
"Would I like him with us in Waterford? Of course, I’m not stupid, he’s a phenomenal talent but you need people really, really saying, ‘Yeah, I want to be here’.
"When you have a long time played and given the service that Austin has given, you listen to him, you have to listen to him and I did."
28 May 2023; Waterford manager Davy Fitzgerald tries to avoid the challenge of Alan Tynan of Tipperary and Jack Fagan of Waterford during the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 5 match between Tipperary and Waterford at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
In Fitzgerald's first season of his second stint as Waterford manager, his side finished bottom of the Munster Hurling Championship round robin table. The Clare man said he and his team are "on the countdown" to the new campaign.
"We have one-to-one meetings, chats to see if everyone is OK and see what the story is," Fitzgerald said.
"I think it's the end of November we'll be back [training], so it's not that far away."
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