After surviving the challenge of Cork without the services of Tadhg de Burca, Waterford could face an anxious wait to see if Austin Gleeson will be available for the All-Ireland final against Galway.
De Burca was sent-off for interfering with Harry Kehoe's helmet during the All-Ireland quarter-final win against Wexford. A lengthy disciplinary process which only ended in the early hours of Thursday morning followed.
Midway through the first half, Austin Gleeson appeared to commit the same offence on Cork's Luke Meade.
On commentary for RTÉ, Marty Morrissey said that it should have been a yellow card 'at least' for Gleeson.
Gleeson was a key player in Waterford's victory. His effect on the game was far less than Derek McGrath would have liked in the opening 55 minutes but he burst into life the final quarter of an hour, scoring 1-2 as the Deise won by 11 points.
At half-time, Ger Loughnane was baffled as to how Gleeson could get involved in such an incident given the loss of de Burca for the semi-final.
Is it dangerous? No. Is it deliberate? Yes. Is it violent? No. How will it be looked after that? I don't know. But it is interference with a helmet, he can't deny that.
He pulls the helmet off Luke Meade. How Ozzie Gleeson gets involved in these incidents just beats me. With all the controversies there was about Tadhg de Burca.
Waterford will almost certainly be without Conor Gleeson for the final. The midfielder was sent-off late in the second half for jabbing Patrick Horgan with his hurley; the Cork man also saw red for the same offence. Considering Waterford's sizeable lead at the time, it was particularly foolish behaviour.
Images by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile and RTÉ Player
