{{Short description|Irish hurler}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=June 2015}} {{infobox Gaelic games player | image = | name = Austin Gleeson | irish = Áistín Ó Gliasáin | nickname = Aussie | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|6|27|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Waterford]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] | height = {{convert|1.89|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}} | occupation = Engineer | sport = Hurling | code = Hurling | county = Waterford | province = Munster | club = [[Mount Sion GAA|Mount Sion]] | clyears = 2012–present | clposition = Centre forward | clapps(points) = | clcounty = 0 | clprovince = | clallireland = | colleges = [[Waterford IT GAA|Waterford Institute of Technology]] | colyears = 2013-2019 | fitz = 0 | counties = [[Waterford GAA|Waterford]] | icyears = 2014–present | icposition = Centre-forward | icapps(points) = 39 (4-101) | icprovince = 0 | icallireland = 0 | nhl = 1 | allstars = 1 | clupdate = | icupdate = 18:30, 23 April 2023 }} '''Austin Gleeson''' (born 27 June 1995) is an Irish [[hurling|hurler]] who plays for [[Waterford Senior Hurling Championship|Waterford Senior Championship]] club [[Mount Sion GAA|Mount Sion]] and at inter-county level with the [[Waterford senior hurling team]]. He usually lines out as a centre-forward but can also be deployed as a centre-back. He is one of two hurlers to ever win young hurler of the year and hurler of the year in the same year, with him winning the honours at the age of 21 in 2016. He is the younger brother of [[Jessica Gleeson]], the [[Republic of Ireland women's national football team|Republic of Ireland women's national team]] [[Association football|soccer]] player.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Redmond |first1=Jason |title=Austin Gleeson Is Not The Only Sporting Superstar In His Family |url=https://punditarena.com/gaa/thepateam/austin-gleeson-sister/ |access-date=10 October 2020 |publisher=Pundit Arena |date=25 December 2016}}</ref>
==Playing career== ===De La Salle College===
Gleeson first came to prominence as a hurler with [[De La Salle College Waterford|De La Salle College]]. He played in every grade of hurling before eventually joining the college's senior hurling team and lined out in several [[Dr. Harty Cup|Harty Cup]] campaigns.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/hurling/austin-gleeson-were-very-close-like-a-club-team-but-its-more-than-a-club-team-458080.html|title=Austin Gleeson: 'We're very close, like a club team, but it's more than a club team'|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=1 September 2007|access-date=14 February 2019|first=Michael|last=Moynihan}}</ref>
===Waterford Institute of Technology===
As a student at the [[Waterford Institute of Technology]], Gleeson joined the [[Waterford IT GAA|senior hurling team]] during his second year. On 1 March 2015, he was selected at left wing-forward when WIT faced the [[University of Limerick]] in the [[2015 Fitzgibbon Cup#Final|Fitzgibbon Cup final]]. Gleeson spent much of the game at full-forward and score a point from a sideline cut in the 0-21 to 3-12 draw.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/wit-ul-fitzgibbon-cup-draw-1966111-Mar2015/|title=80 minutes and 36 scores in Fitzgibbon Cup final draw as UL and WIT head for replay|publisher=The 42|date=1 March 2015|access-date=14 February 2019|first=Fintan|last=O'Toole}}</ref> He retained his position for the replay on 11 March but was forced off with a hamstring injury after just four minutes in the 2-18 to 1-14 defeat.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/ul-fitzgibbon-cup-wit-1987070-Mar2015/|title=Tony Kelly man-of-the-match as UL celebrate Fitzgibbon Cup final replay win over WIT|publisher=The 42|date=11 March 2015|access-date=14 February 2019|first=Denis|last=Hurley}}</ref>
===Mount Sion===
Gleeson joined the [[Mount Sion GAA|Mount Sion]] club when he was 8-year-old and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels, winning championship medals in the under-14 and under-16 grades. He made his first appearance for the club's senior team during the 2012 Waterford Championship
On 5 October 2014, Gleeson lined out at centre-back when Mount Sion faced [[Ballygunner GAA|Ballygunner]] in the [[Waterford Senior Hurling Championship|Waterford Senior Championship final]]. He ended the game on the sideline after receiving two yellow cards in the 2-16 to 0-09 defeat.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/redemption-for-gallant-gunners-290007.html|title=Redemption for gallant Gunners|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=6 October 2014|access-date=14 February 2019|first=Michael|last=Moynihan}}</ref>
===Waterford=== ====Minor and under-21====
Gleeson first lined out for [[Waterford GAA|Waterford]] as a member of the minor team during the [[2012 All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship#Munster Minor Hurling Championship|2012 Munster Championship]]. He made his first appearance for the team on 2 May when he was introduced as a 45th-minute substitute in a 1-20 to 3-13 defeat of [[Clare GAA|Clare]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/curran-proves-deise-hero-26849424.html|title=Curran proves Deise hero|date=3 May 2012|publisher=Irish Independent|access-date=12 June 2019}}</ref>
Gleeson was again eligible for the minor grade in [[2013 All-Ireland Minor Football Championship|2013]] and joined the starting fifteen as a centre-back. On 14 July, he scored 0-03, including two frees, in a 2-19 apiece draw with [[Limerick GAA|Limerick]] in the [[2013 All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship#Munster Minor Hurling Championship|Munster final]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/limerick-waterford-munster-minor-992433-Jul2013/|title=Limerick and Waterford draw in Munster minor hurling final|date=14 July 2013|publisher=The 42|access-date=12 June 2019|first=Jackie|last=Cahill}}</ref> Gleeson retained his position at centre-back for the replay on 23 July, however, he ended on the losing side following a 1-20 to 4-08 defeat.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-20237793.html|title=Limerick end 29-year wait for Munster title in style|date=24 July 2013|publisher=Irish Examiner|access-date=30 July 2018|first=Jackie|last=Cahill}}</ref> On 8 September, he scored a point from a free when Waterford defeated [[Galway GAA|Galway]] by 1-21 to 0-16 in the [[2013 All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship#All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship|All-Ireland final]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/waterford-beat-galway-all-ireland-minor-hurling-final-1074442-Sep2013/|title=Waterford end 65-year wait for All-Ireland minor title|date=8 September 2013|publisher=The 42|access-date=30 July 2018|first=Paul|last=Fennessy}}</ref>
Gleeson joined the Waterford under-21 team in advance of the [[2014 All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship#Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship|2014 Munster Championship]]. He made his first appearance for the team on 16 July 2014 and top scored for Waterford with 0-07 in a 3-18 to 0-16 defeat by [[Cork GAA|Cork]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/collins-pulls-out-all-the-stops-275757.html|title=Collins pulls out all the stops|date=17 July 2014|publisher=Irish Examiner|access-date=30 July 2018|first=Diarmuid|last=O'Flynn}}</ref>
After a disappointing [[2015 All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship#Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship|2015 Munster Championship]], Gleeson was selected for the under-21 team for a third successive season in [[2016 All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship|2016]]. On 27 July, he scored 0-05 from centre-back and claimed the [[man of the match]] award after a 2-19 to 0-15 defeat of [[Tipperary GAA|Tipperary]] in the [[Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship|Munster final]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2016/0727/805288-waterford-v-tipperary/|title=Waterford find extra gear to claim Munster U21 hurling title|date=28 July 2016|publisher=RTÉ Sport|access-date=30 July 2018|first=Tomás|last=McCarthy}}</ref> On 10 September, Gleeson won an [[All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship|All-Ireland]] medal after scoring 0-02 from centre-back in a 5-15 to 0-14 defeat of Galway in the [[2016 All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship Final|final]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hoganstand.com/article/index/260712|title=All-Ireland U21 HC final: dazzling Deise surge past Tribesmen|date=10 September 2016|publisher=Hogan Stand|access-date=30 July 2018}}</ref> He ended the season by being named in the centre-back position on the Team of the Year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/stephen-bennett-u21-player-of-the-year-3016990-Oct2016/|title=Waterford's Stephen Bennett named U21 player of the year|date=8 October 2016|publisher=The 42|access-date=30 July 2018|first=Paul|last=Fennessy}}</ref>
====Senior====
Gleeson was added to the Waterford senior panel prior to the start of the [[2014 National Hurling League|2014 National League]]. He made his first appearance for the team on 23 March 2014 when he lined out at left corner-forward in a 4-22 to 0-14 defeat by [[Kilkenny GAA|Kilkenny]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/kilkenny-waterford-division-ia-hurling-1377452-Mar2014/|title=Stunning second-half sees Kilkenny ease past Waterford|date=23 March 2014|publisher=The 42|access-date=30 July 2018|first=Paul|last=Keane}}</ref> Gleeson made his [[2014 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship#Munster Senior Hurling Championship|Munster Championship]] debut on 25 May 2014 when he scored 1-02 from left wing-forward in a 1-21 apiece draw with Cork.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/horgan-secures-second-chance-for-offkey-cork-30304250.html|title=Horgan secures second chance for off-key Cork|date=26 May 2014|publisher=Irish Independent|access-date=12 June 2019|first=Martin|last=Breheny}}</ref>
On 3 May 2015, Gleeson was named at centre-back but played much of the game at right wing-back when Waterford faced Cork in the [[2015 National Hurling League#Division 1 Final|National League final]]. He scored 0-02 and collected a winners' medal following the 1-24 to 0-17 victory.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/waterford-cork-2082951-May2015/|title=Waterford crowned hurling league champions with emphatic win over Cork|date=3 May 2015|publisher=The 42|access-date=2 January 2019|first=Fintan|last=O'Toole}}</ref> On 12 July 2015, Gleeson scored 0-02 from right wing-back when Waterford were beaten for the fourth time in six seasons by Tipperary in the [[2015 Munster Senior Hurling Championship Final|Munster final]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/tipperary-claim-munster-hurling-title-with-tight-win-over-waterford-31370896.html|title=Tipperary claim Munster hurling title with tight win over Waterford|date=6 March 2012|publisher=Irish Independent|access-date=2 January 2019|first=Seán|last=McGoldrick}}</ref> He ended the season by being nominated for an [[GAA All Stars Awards|All-Star]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/2015-hurling-allstars-revealed-2363477-Oct2015/|title=Kilkenny and Galway lead the way as 2015 hurling Allstar nominations revealed|date=2 October 2015|publisher=The 42|access-date=12 June 2019|first=Steve|last=O'Rourke}}</ref>
On 1 May 2016, Gleeson was at centre-back when Waterford lined out in the [[2016 National Hurling League#Division 1 Final & Replay|National League final]]. He scored 0-02 before being substituted in the 63rd minute as Waterford drew 0-22 apiece with Clare.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/incredible-drama-as-waterford-force-league-final-replay-after-monster-70m-free-34675645.html|title=Incredible drama as Waterford force league final replay after monster 70m free|date=1 May 2016|publisher=Irish Independent|access-date=2 January 2019|first=Seán|last=McGoldrick}}</ref> Gleeson switched to centre-forward and scored 0-03 in the replay, which Waterford lost by 1-23 to 2-19.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/clare-waterford-hurling-2758374-May2016/|title=Kelly the scoring hero as Clare claim dramatic league final win over Waterford|date=8 May 2016|publisher=The 42|access-date=2 January 2019|first=Fintan|last=O'Toole}}</ref> On 10 July, he scored 0-02 from left corner-forward when Waterford suffered a 5-19 to 0-13 defeat by Tipperary in the [[2016 Munster Senior Hurling Championship Final|Munster final]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/tipp-torrents-wash-deise-hopes-away-34872402.html|title=Tipp torrents wash Deise hopes away|date=11 July 2016|publisher=Irish Independent|access-date=2 January 2019|first=Martin|last=Breheny}}</ref> Gleeson ended the season by becoming only the second player ever to win the [[All Stars Hurler of the Year|Hurler of the Year]] and [[All Stars Young Hurler of the Year|Young Hurler of the Year]] awards in the same year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/austin-gleesonshurler-of-the-yeardouble-a-huge-honour-429171.html|title=Austin Gleeson's Hurler of The Year double a 'huge honour'|date=4 November 2016|work=Irish Examiner|access-date=7 November 2016}}</ref> He also claimed the centre-forward berth on the All-Star team.
On 3 September 2017, Gleeson was named at centre-forward when Waterford faced [[Galway GAA|Galway]] in the [[2017 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final|All-Ireland final]]. He ended the game as a runner-up following Galway's 0-26 to 2-17 victory.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/galway-end-all-ireland-famine-with-tight-win-over-waterford-at-croke-park-36095604.html|title=Galway end All Ireland famine with tight win over Waterford at Croke Park|date=3 September 2017|publisher=Irish Independent|access-date=2 January 2019|first=Seán|last=McGoldrick}}</ref> Gleeson ended the season by securing a third successive All-Star nomination.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gaa.ie/stories/pwc-hurling-all-stars-nominations-announced/|title=PwC Hurling All-Stars nominations announced|date=20 September 2017|publisher=GAA website|access-date=2 January 2019}}</ref>
Gleeson's 2018 season was blighted by a series of injuries. A pulled quad hampered him during the early rounds of the [[2018 National Hurling League|National League]] while he also suffered an infected cut on his ankle. Just before the start of the [[2018 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship#Munster Senior Hurling Championship|Munster Championship]] he sustained a hamstring injury after playing just 14 minutes of a club game with Mount Sion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/i-havent-had-that-many-injuries-but-three-already-this-year-is-a-bit-of-a-disaster-36772618.html|title='I haven't had that many injuries but three already this year is a bit of a disaster'|date=4 April 2018|publisher=Irish Independent|access-date=2 January 2019|first=Donnchadh|last=Boyle}}</ref>
On 31 March 2019, Gleeson was named at midfield but lined out at centre-forward when Waterford faced Limerick in the [[2019 National Hurling League#Final|National League final]]. He scored 0-02, including a point from a sideline, in the 1-24 to 0-19 defeat.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/limerick-hurling-league-waterford-4569589-Mar2019/|title=Limerick end 22-year with for league honours in style with final win over Waterford|date=31 March 2019|publisher=The 42|access-date=31 March 2019|first=Fintan|last=O'Toole}}</ref>
==Career statistics==
{{updated|match played 23 April 2023.}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- !rowspan="2"|Team !rowspan="2"|Year !colspan="3"|[[National Hurling League|National League]] !colspan="2"|[[Munster Senior Hurling Championship|Munster]] !colspan="2"|[[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship|All-Ireland]] !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Score!!Apps!!Score!!Apps!!Score!!Apps!!Score |- | rowspan="10" |[[Waterford GAA|Waterford]] |2014 |rowspan="1"|[[National Hurling League|Division 1A]] |3||1-01||2||1-05||2||0-04||7||2-10 |- |2015 |rowspan="1"|[[National Hurling League|Division 1B]] |7||0-10||2||0-03||2||0-07||11||0-20 |- |2016 |rowspan="3"|[[National Hurling League|Division 1A]] |9||0-19||2||0-08||3||1-09||14||1-36 |- |2017 |5||0-07||1||0-02||5||1-16||11||1-25 |- |2018 |5||0-07||3||0-01||colspan=2|—||8||0-08 |- |2019 |rowspan="1"|[[National Hurling League|Division 1B]] |6||0-08||3||0-05||colspan=2|—||9||0-13 |- |2020 |rowspan="1"|[[National Hurling League|Division 1A]] |2||0-01||2||0-06||2||0-06||6||0-13 |- |2021 |Division 1 Group A | | |1 |0-04 |4 |1-12 |5 |1-16 |- |2022 |Division 1 Group B | | |4 |0-12 | | |4 |0-12 |- |2023 |Division 1 Group B | | |1 |0-01 | | |1 |0-01 |- ! colspan="3" |Total !37!!1-53!!21!!1-47!!18!!3-54!!76!!4-154 |}
== Honours ==
;Mount Sion
*Waterford Junior Football Championship (2): 2018, 2021
;Waterford *[[National Hurling League]] (1): [[2015 National Hurling League|2015]] *[[All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship]] (1): [[2016 All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship|2016]] *[[Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship]] (1): [[2016 All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship#Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship|2016]] *[[All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship]] (1): [[2013 All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship|2013]]
;Awards *[[All Stars Hurler of the Year]] (1): 2016 *[[All Stars Young Hurler of the Year]] (1): 2016 *[[GAA GPA All Stars Awards]] (1): 2016
== References == {{reflist}}
{{Navboxes |title=Austin Gleeson navigation boxes |list1= {{s-start}} {{s-ach|aw}} {{succession box| before=[[Tadhg de Búrca]]| title=[[All Stars Young Hurler of the Year|GAA-GPA All-Star Young Hurler of the Year]]| years=2016| after=[[Conor Whelan]]| }} {{succession box| before=[[T. J. Reid]]| title=[[All Stars Hurler of the Year|GAA-GPA All-Star Hurler of the Year]]| years=2016| after=[[Joe Canning]]| }} {{s-end}} {{Waterford Minor Hurling Team 2013}} {{Waterford Under-21 Hurling Team 2016}} {{Waterford Hurling Team 2017}} {{Waterford Hurling Team 2020}} {{2016 Hurling All Stars}} {{GAA/GPA Young Hurler of the Year}} {{All Stars Hurler of the Year}} {{2016 All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Team of the Year}} }} {{Waterford Hurling Team}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gleeson, Austin}} [[Category:1995 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Alumni of Waterford Institute of Technology]] [[Category:Irish engineers]] [[Category:Mount Sion hurlers]] [[Category:Waterford inter-county hurlers]] [[Category:Waterford IT hurlers]] [[Category:21st-century Irish sportsmen]] [[Category:GAA/GPA Young Hurlers of the Year]]