AUSTIN TOWERS

Last year Gleeson and Waterford were flying high.. now it’s all about bigger prize

Clare v Waterford Tomorrow, Ennis, 3pm (TG4 deferred)

IT’S clear from talking to Austin Gleeson that Waterford certainly haven’t circled March 26 on the calendar. Ultimately, it’s September 3 they are working towards but, for now, it’s June 18 and a Munster semi-final against Tipperary or Cork. They may well end up being relegated from Division 1A on the back of contesting two successive League finals but they’re mature enough not to be fazed by that now. They travel to Ennis to face Clare tomorrow knowing they likely face a relegation play-off next week if they lose. “A year or two ago it would have been more emphasised that it is all or nothing but the players are there and they have been through it all,” says Gleeson. “The majority of players have won a League and been relegated and promoted so we’ll take it game by game and win or lose we are out next weekend, be it relegation or the League quarter-final. “It is important, I suppose, to get as close to Championship playing competitive games - it obviously helps. “There’s not much emphasis on the League in ways this year. We are after getting within a puck of a ball of reaching an All-ireland final so that’s one of our main aims but obviously June 18 is what we are looking forward to. “If you look at Tipperary, they were defeated by Clare last year in the League quarter final and Kilkenny the last two years didn’t place much emphasis on the League. “So it shows in ways it’s a stepping stone and it is also important to get a couple of wins under your belt and maybe reach the quarterfinal and whatever happens after that then you take it and go with it.” Waterford were heartbreakingly close to reaching last year’s All-ireland final though their conquerors Kilkenny’s subsequent drubbing from Tipperary was instructive at to how far they have still to travel. “You are thinking we were within a whisker of defeating Kilkenny and yet Tipp went out and done that to Kilkenny,” Gleeson reflects. “Their movement in the forward line was incredible. I was with my cousin at the game and the two of us looked at each other after 10 minutes and said, ‘There is not one player in the Tipp forwards that has stopped moving’. The intensity was incredible. You could see the step up. “I’d say if you put out a combined 15, Tipperary would have nearly defeated them that day because it was as if they had the trophy in their hands before the game started and there was nobody taking it off them. Everybody has to step up now. “They did it to us in the Munster final last year and it shows that if they turn it on on any given day then they could do that to any team. “So it’s up to every other team to catch up to them now instead of Kilkenny, but obviously Kilkenny won’t be written off. VERDICT: Clare