Multi-talented Gleeson savours another medal
By Thomas Conway
David Gleeson has no shortage of sporting accolades to his name. Since childhood he’s been an adroit sportsman, thriving across multiple codes - hurling, football, rugby, tennis.
In 2018 he was an instrumental component of the Tipperary side that overcame Cork to land the last ever All-Ireland Under-21 hurling title.
But what he and his band of Nenagh Ormond brothers achieved last Sunday surely ranks among his greatest achievements. If not his greatest, certainly his most emotional.
The mercurial winger was abroad for the first half of this season, but no spell overseas could diminish his vigorous pace and try-scoring ability. Always relaxed and easy-going, his assessment of Sunday’s final was honest and slightly brutal.
Nenagh were not happy at the interval. Their first-half performance had been errant and uncharacteristic, but they consigned that to history and promised themselves that the second-half would be different.
“We came in at half-time and it was 10-10, so we said right, we’re starting again here,” he said.
“That first-half wasn’t really us. What we had shown throughout the year was a lot better than that. We were excellent then in the second-half. We came out and we just said to ourselves, we’re not going to concede here, we’re going to stick to our plan, stick to the basics, and we’re going to win this game.
We had done it time and time again throughout the season, and thankfully we got the job done today.”
Gleeson hailed the contributions of all of his fellow players, referencing in particular those who had to adapt to a positional change for the game. He also gave an insight into just what it takes to hold down a place in this Nenagh Ormond starting XV, highlighting the level of commitment required of the players.
He added: “Angus (Blackmore) stood up today; Ben Pope moved back to full-back and was fantastic; Josh (Rowland) had no problem moving out to the wing. And then the forwards, the forwards were just unbelievable, as a unit. And they do it week-in, week-out. Take the likes of Colm Skehan, coming back from injury and adding so much strength. All of the lads are excellent.
“We’re all fighting. Every week I come home twice from Dublin to train. It was once a week last year, but you just can’t afford that this year if you want a place in the team. There’s just so much competition there.”
The Ballinahinch man also had touching words for the late Keith Hayes. Gleeson emphasised the emotion of the day, the galvanising effect Hayes’ untimely passing had on the team, and the overall contribution he made to the club.
“His legacy has been there for the past three years,” Gleeson added.
“Everyone plays for him. It just means so much. Everyone gets so emotional when you talk about him or mention his name, but that’s because he was such a huge part of the club.”