Austin Gleeson believes Waterford need to keep evolving

Austin Gleeson accepts that Waterford need to evolve to maintain momentum next year.

The All Star nominee said that the team was waiting to see what manager Derek McGrath was planning after a year in which they won promotion from Division One B, added the league title and reached July’s Munster final and the All-Ireland semi-finals.

“I’m not really sure, to be honest. The sweeper worked for us this year. I’d said it will be something similar but he’ll have something up his sleeve anyway. If we play the way we played against Kilkenny we won’t win.

Best player

“Tadhg (de Búrca) is probably after being our best player all year behind Maurice (Shanahan). We know he’s capable of marking a man but the way he was playing the sweeping role it worked for us and we stuck at it. We just have to wait and see what Derek has up his sleeve for next year. We don’t know but we might find out over the next couple of weeks.”

Gleeson was also a luminary in defence beside de Búrca but reverted to an attacking role – where his career began – in the later stages of the championship

“The week before the quarter-final, Derek came to me and was explaining what was going to happen. I was happy enough. To be honest, I don’t know where I want to play because wherever I go I will probably be changed again.

“Playing the half-forward line, I like it because I can be more direct when I get the ball, run at players, which I like doing. Yeah, probably [I prefer playing] more around the middle than instead of always having it in the back of my mind to watch a man. If he changes the tactics and wherever he decides to play me I’ll be happy with it whatever.”

‘Stand up’

He also believes that there is an All-Ireland in the young team.

“Yeah, personally I think there is but between 2002 and 2006 the players would have thought the same.

“We have to turn up now, just stand up and try and be men and try and win it for the county and for ourselves.” n Former Limerick captain Ciarán Carey is set to be ratified as manager of the Kerry senior hurling side at next month’s county committee meeting.

Three times an All Star, he led the county in the 1996 All-Ireland defeat by Wexford and was a selector in Donal O’Grady’s management.

He is succeeding Éamonn Kelly, who has just been appointed manager of Offaly.