John Leahy (hurler)
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Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Irish name | Seán Ó Laochda | ||
Sport | Hurling / Gaelic Football | ||
Position | Half-forward | ||
Born |
Mullinahone, County Tipperary | 16 September 1969||
Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
Club(s) | |||
Years | Club | ||
Mullinahone | |||
Club titles | |||
Tipperary titles | 1 County SH (2002) | ||
Inter-county(ies) | |||
Years | County | Apps (scores) | |
1988-2003 | Tipperary | ? (5-75) | |
Inter-county titles | |||
Munster titles | 5 | ||
All-Irelands | 3 | ||
NHL | 4 | ||
All Stars |
3 McGrath Cup Football = 1 (1994) |
John Leahy (born 16 September 1969 in Mullinahone) is a former Irish sportsperson. He played senior hurling with the Tipperary inter-county team from 1988 until 2003. He also represented Tipperary in all grades in Gaelic football.
Early life and private life
John Leahy was born in Mullinahone, County Tipperary in 1969. He was educated locally in Mullinahone N.S., Ballingarry Presentation Convent and Killenaule V.S. He later worked for United Beverages Group in Kilkenny. He is currently working as a Drug Education Officer with the Health Service Executive (HSE).
On 9 February 2005 Leahy was profiled on the TG4 television programme Laochra Gael.[1]
Playing career
Club
Leahy played his club hurling and football with his local Mullinahone club. He enjoyed much success winning county medals in both codes at underage levels. By the time Leahy's club career was coming to an end Mullinahone had been promoted to the senior grade. In 2002 he battled back from a cruciate ligament injury to be appointed player-manager of the club's senior hurling side. That year he guided Mullinahone to their first senior county championship.[2]
Minor & under-21
Leahy's hurling skills quickly came to the attention of the
Senior Hurling
In 1988 Leahy made his senior inter-county debut in a National Hurling League game against Antrim. In doing so he became the first Mullinahone man ever to play for the senior side. Tipp later went on to win the league title, with Leahy coming on as a substitute in the final. Later that year he came on as a substitute in the Munster final to claim his first senior provincial medal. Tipperary later lost the All-Ireland final to Galway. In 1989 Leahy was a full member of the Tipperary team and he captured a second consecutive Munster medal. This was later converted into his first senior All-Ireland medal following a final victory over Antrim.[3]
Two years later in 1991 Leahy captured a third provincial medal before later winning his second All-Ireland medal following a win over
In 1999 Leahy won his third National League medal, however, further championship success still eluded Tipp. All this changed in 2001 when Tipp began the year by winning another league title. Injuring his right cruciate ligament[5] in the first round of the championship ruled Leahy out of both the Munster and All-Ireland finals, which Tipperary won. Leahy retired from inter-county hurling in 2003, due to damaging his other cruciate ligament.
Football
Leahy also played football with Tipperary. He won a McGrath Cup title in 1993 when his side beat London in the final.[6] He also lined out in the 1993 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and 1994 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.
Post-playing career
In retirement from inter-county hurling Leahy has maintained a key interest in the game. He was a selector during 2006 and 2007 seasons on the senior team managed by Babs Keating.[7]
Honours
Player
- Tipperary
- 2001
- 2001
- All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship (1): 1989
- Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship (1): 1989,
- McGrath Cup (1): 1993
- Mullinahone
- Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship (1): 2002
Individual
- Awards
- All-Star(3): 1991, 1994, 1997
References
- ^ "An Fear Rua - The GAA Unplugged". Archived from the original on 18 June 2007.
- ^ "Kelly underlines his class in Mullinahone's fairytale win".
- ^ "John Leahy: 'I never felt as free in life as I did on a hurling field'". Irish Times. 17 August 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
- ^ "'Sometimes the Gods are with you and sometimes they're not'". Irish Examiner. 22 July 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
- ^ "Hurling: John Leahy's career in doubt". 7 June 2001.
- ^ "McGrath Cup Football". 11 June 2009.
- ^ "Leahy favoured for county role - HoganStand".