John Leahy (hurler)
Encyclopedia
John Leahy 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. He is regarded as a great hurler in Tipperary.
, County Tipperary
in 1969. He was educated locally in Mullinahone N.S., Ballingarry Presetation Convent and Killenaule V.S. He later worked for United Beverages Group in Kilkenny
. He is currently working as a Drug Education Officer with Health Service Executive(HSE).
On 9 February 2005 Leahy was profiled on the TG4
television programme Laochra Gael
.
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-manger of the club’s senior hurling side. That year he guided Mullinahone to their first senior county championship
.
inter-county selectors and he joined the minor panel in 1987. In 1987 he won a Munster minor medal and joined the Senior Hurling and U21 Teams in 1988. In 1989 Leahy won a Munster title with the under-21 team before later converting this into an All-Ireland
medal. In 1990 he won a second Munster under-21 medal. That year he was the first Mullinahone man to Captain a Tipperary Side to a Munster Hurling Title.
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
.
Two years later in 1991 Leahy captured a third provincial medal before later winning his second All-Ireland medal following a win over Kilkenny
. His performance throughout the whole championship earned Leahy his first All-Star
award. In 1993 he won his fourth Munster medal, however, Tipperary were later beaten by Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final. Leahy won a second National League medal before adding a second All-Star award to his collection at the end of 1994. Leahy has a unique record of the only player to win an all-Star without playing in the championship in 1994. Three years later in 1997 Tipperary lost to Clare
in the Munster final. In the first year of the ‘back-door system’, however, Tipp later qualified to play Clare again in the first-ever All-Munster All-Ireland final. Unfortunately Leahy ended up on the losing side once again. In spite of this he was presented with a third All-Star award.
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 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.
Leahy has maintained a key interest in the game. He was a selector during 2006/2007 seasons on the senior team managed by Babs Keating.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
sportsperson. He played senior hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with the Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
inter-county team from 1988 until 2003. He also represented Tipperary in all grades in Gaelic Football. He is regarded as a great hurler in Tipperary.
Early life & private life
John Leahy was born in MullinahoneMullinahone
Mullinahone is a village in the barony of Slievardagh, South Tipperary in Ireland. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly.The Irish Census of 2006 recorded the village as having a population of 372.-Location and access:...
, County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
in 1969. He was educated locally in Mullinahone N.S., Ballingarry Presetation Convent and Killenaule V.S. He later worked for United Beverages Group in Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
. He is currently working as a Drug Education Officer with Health Service Executive(HSE).
On 9 February 2005 Leahy was profiled on the TG4
TG4
TG4 is a public service broadcaster for Irish language speakers. The channel has been on-air since 31 October 1996 in the Republic of Ireland and since April 2005 in Northern Ireland....
television programme Laochra Gael
Laochra Gael
Laochra Gael which means Gaelic heroes in the Irish language is an Irish television programme. Now its seventh series the show profiles and celebrates some of the greatest names in Gaelic games since the 1940s. Each of the programmes contains interviews with the subject, archive footage of their...
.
Club
Leahy played his club hurlingHurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
and football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
with his local Mullinahone
Mullinahone GAA
Mullinahone-CJ Kickhams GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association located in Mullinahone, south County Tipperary, Ireland, close to the border with County Kilkenny. The Mullinahone Club is named in honour of Charles J...
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-manger of the club’s senior hurling side. That year he guided Mullinahone to their first senior county championship
Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship
The Tipperary Senior Hurling Club Championship is an annual club competition between the top Tipperary hurling clubs...
.
Minor & under-21
Leahy’s hurling skills quickly came to the attention of the TipperaryTipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
inter-county selectors and he joined the minor panel in 1987. In 1987 he won a Munster minor medal and joined the Senior Hurling and U21 Teams in 1988. In 1989 Leahy won a Munster title with the under-21 team before later converting this into an All-Ireland
All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for players aged between 18 and 21 in the game of hurling played in Ireland...
medal. In 1990 he won a second Munster under-21 medal. That year he was the first Mullinahone man to Captain a Tipperary Side to a Munster Hurling Title.
Senior Hurling
In 1988 Leahy made his senior inter-county debut in a National Hurling LeagueNational Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
game against Antrim
Antrim GAA
The Antrim County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Antrim GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Antrim. The county board is also responsible for the Antrim inter-county teams...
. In doing so he became the first Mullinahone
Mullinahone GAA
Mullinahone-CJ Kickhams GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association located in Mullinahone, south County Tipperary, Ireland, close to the border with County Kilkenny. The Mullinahone Club is named in honour of Charles J...
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
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
final to claim his first senior provincial medal. Tipperary later lost the All-Ireland final to Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
. 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
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
medal following a final victory over Antrim
Antrim GAA
The Antrim County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Antrim GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Antrim. The county board is also responsible for the Antrim inter-county teams...
.
Two years later in 1991 Leahy captured a third provincial medal before later winning his second All-Ireland medal following a win over Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
. His performance throughout the whole championship earned Leahy his first All-Star
GAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
award. In 1993 he won his fourth Munster medal, however, Tipperary were later beaten by Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final. Leahy won a second National League medal before adding a second All-Star award to his collection at the end of 1994. Leahy has a unique record of the only player to win an all-Star without playing in the championship in 1994. Three years later in 1997 Tipperary lost to Clare
Clare GAA
The Clare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Clare GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Clare. The county board is also responsible for the Clare inter-county teams....
in the Munster final. In the first year of the ‘back-door system’, however, Tipp later qualified to play Clare again in the first-ever All-Munster All-Ireland final. Unfortunately Leahy ended up on the losing side once again. In spite of this he was presented with a third All-Star award.
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 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.
Post-playing career
In retirement from inter-county hurlingHurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
Leahy has maintained a key interest in the game. He was a selector during 2006/2007 seasons on the senior team managed by Babs Keating.