"I'm fully done now" - Austin Gleeson calls time on Waterford career

Waterford's Austin Gleeson celebrates after scoring a goal against Cork.
©INPHO/Ryan Byrne.

Waterford star Austin Gleeson has announced his retirement from inter-county hurling, bringing an end to a distinguished Déise senior career that began in 2014.

Now 31, the Mount Sion clubman was part of the Waterford side that reached the All-Ireland finals in 2017 and 2020. His finest individual year came in 2016 when he was named both Hurler of the Year and Young Hurler of the Year.

A year earlier, Gleeson collected a National League Division 1 medal after Waterford defeated Cork in the final. He also enjoyed underage All-Ireland success, winning a minor medal in 2013 and an U21 title three years later.

After stepping away from the Waterford set-up in 2024, Gleeson returned and was part of the squad during Peter Queally's two seasons in charge. However, injuries limited his involvement and he did not feature in championship action.

“I’m fully done now,” Gleeson told Off the Ball.

“I knew it at the start of 2026. There was one training session I remember in particular where it didn’t go the best – it was 23 December; we trained down in Passage.

“I remember we were running. My head was two or three steps ahead of my body. I remember thinking, that’s the sign there.”

He added: “I’ll be 32 next year. I’m not saying 32 is an old age. Lads a lot older than me are still playing. But my body was calling me to say ‘that’s it,’ and that was it.

“I know a lot of lads who would do recovery sessions. I felt: ‘Ah no, I’m grand.’ I only started doing them in recent years.

“Gym-wise, I wouldn’t have been the first person in and the last one to leave the gym. I liked to get in, get it done, get out. It wouldn’t have been my favourite thing to do.

“And I didn’t look after myself in the off-seasons as well as I should have.

“So 100% there are regrets. I’m fairly content stepping away now. But I wish I had looked after myself a bit more seven or eight years ago, and maybe I could have prolonged it for another year or two.”