Terry Leahy (hurler)
Encyclopedia
Terry Leahy was an Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
at various times with his local clubs Emeralds in Kilkenny and Faughs
in Dublin. Leahy was also a member of both the Kilkenny
and Dublin
senior inter-county teams from 1938 until 1949.
with his local Emeralds club in Urlingford
, however, he enjoyed little success with the club and never won a senior county title. Leahy later played club hurling with the Faughs
club in Dublin and he won seven county titles.
minor team in the 1930s. He won a Leinster
title in this grade in 1935 before later lining out in the minor championship decider. Tipperary
provided the opposition on this occasion, however, victory went to Kilkenny and Leahy collected a coveted All-Ireland
minor medal.
By 1937 Leahy had joined the Kilkenny senior inter-county team. That year he captured his first senior Leinster
title as Kilkenny defeated Westmeath
in the provincial decider. 'The Cats' later took on Tipperary in an historic All-Ireland final at FitzGerald Stadium
in Killarney
, however, Leahy's side were trounced on a score line of 3-11 to 0-3. Two years later in 1939 Leahy won a second Leinster title before lining out in his second championship decider. The game itself is remembered as the 'thunder and lightning final' as the climax of the game was played in a fierce thunderstorm. With the game going into injury time Cork scored an equalising goal. Leahy, however, proved to be the hero of the game as he scored the winning point giving Kilkenny a 2-7 to 3-3 victory. Leahy had secured his first All-Ireland
medal. In 1940 Leahy won histhird provincial medal and later lined out in his third All-Ireland final. Limerick
provided the opposition on that occasion, however, Kilkenny, the reigning champions, fell to the Munstermen on a score line of 3-7 to 1-7.
For the next few years Kilkenny were not allowed to participate in the championship due to the outbreak of a foot-and-mouth epidemic in the county. Because of this it would be 1946 before Leahy captured a fourth Leinster medal. He later lined out in his fourth championship decider with Cork providing the opposition once again. On the day Kilkenny were overwhelmed by 'the Rebels' and Leahy ended up on the losing side. In 1947 he added a fifth and final Leinster medal to his collection. For the second year running Cork provided the opposition. The stakes were high for Kilkenny as they faced the prospect of becoming the first county to lose three consecutive championship deciders. In a game described as the greatest All-Ireland final of all-time Leahy scored six points and helped his native-county to capture a 0-14 to 2-7 victory. He scored both the equalising and ther winning point. Eight years after winning his first Leahy had finally added a second All-Ireland medal to his collection. He continued hurling with Kilkenny until 1949.
in the inter-provincial hurling competition, however, he never won a Railway Cup medal.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
sportsperson. He played 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...
at various times with his local clubs Emeralds in Kilkenny and Faughs
Faughs
Faughs GAA Club is a Gaelic Athletic Association hurling and camogie club in Templeogue, Dublin, Ireland. They have won 31 titles.-History:...
in Dublin. Leahy was also a member of both the 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...
and Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
senior inter-county teams from 1938 until 1949.
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...
with his local Emeralds club in Urlingford
Urlingford
Urlingford is a town in the barony of Galmoy, County Kilkenny, Ireland.The town lies on the R639. The M8 motorway runs just west of the town, from which both Urlingford and nearby Johnstown are accessed via junction four. Urlingford is a bus hub, with major operator JJ Kavanagh and Sons based there...
, however, he enjoyed little success with the club and never won a senior county title. Leahy later played club hurling with the Faughs
Faughs
Faughs GAA Club is a Gaelic Athletic Association hurling and camogie club in Templeogue, Dublin, Ireland. They have won 31 titles.-History:...
club in Dublin and he won seven county titles.
Inter-county
Leahy first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the KilkennyKilkenny 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...
minor team in the 1930s. He won a Leinster
Leinster Minor Hurling Championship
The ESB Leinster Minor Hurling Championship is the Minor "knockout" competition in the game of Hurling played in the province of Leinster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Leinster Council...
title in this grade in 1935 before later lining out in the minor championship decider. 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...
provided the opposition on this occasion, however, victory went to Kilkenny and Leahy collected a coveted All-Ireland
All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship is an annual competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1928 for competitors under eighteen years of age in the game of hurling played in Ireland.The series of games are played during the summer months with the All-Ireland final...
minor medal.
By 1937 Leahy had joined the Kilkenny senior inter-county team. That year he captured his first senior Leinster
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship
The Leinster 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 Leinster in Ireland....
title as Kilkenny defeated Westmeath
Westmeath GAA
The Westmeath County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Westmeath GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Westmeath...
in the provincial decider. 'The Cats' later took on Tipperary in an historic All-Ireland final at FitzGerald Stadium
FitzGerald Stadium
Fitzgerald Stadium is the principal Gaelic Athletic Association stadium in Killarney, Ireland, and is the home championship venue for the Kerry senior football team....
in Killarney
Killarney
Killarney is a town in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland. The town is located north of the MacGillicuddy Reeks, on the northeastern shore of the Lough Lein/Leane which are part of Killarney National Park. The town and its surrounding region are home to St...
, however, Leahy's side were trounced on a score line of 3-11 to 0-3. Two years later in 1939 Leahy won a second Leinster title before lining out in his second championship decider. The game itself is remembered as the 'thunder and lightning final' as the climax of the game was played in a fierce thunderstorm. With the game going into injury time Cork scored an equalising goal. Leahy, however, proved to be the hero of the game as he scored the winning point giving Kilkenny a 2-7 to 3-3 victory. Leahy had secured his first 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. In 1940 Leahy won histhird provincial medal and later lined out in his third All-Ireland final. Limerick
Limerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
provided the opposition on that occasion, however, Kilkenny, the reigning champions, fell to the Munstermen on a score line of 3-7 to 1-7.
For the next few years Kilkenny were not allowed to participate in the championship due to the outbreak of a foot-and-mouth epidemic in the county. Because of this it would be 1946 before Leahy captured a fourth Leinster medal. He later lined out in his fourth championship decider with Cork providing the opposition once again. On the day Kilkenny were overwhelmed by 'the Rebels' and Leahy ended up on the losing side. In 1947 he added a fifth and final Leinster medal to his collection. For the second year running Cork provided the opposition. The stakes were high for Kilkenny as they faced the prospect of becoming the first county to lose three consecutive championship deciders. In a game described as the greatest All-Ireland final of all-time Leahy scored six points and helped his native-county to capture a 0-14 to 2-7 victory. He scored both the equalising and ther winning point. Eight years after winning his first Leahy had finally added a second All-Ireland medal to his collection. He continued hurling with Kilkenny until 1949.
Provincial
Leahy also lined out with LeinsterLeinster GAA
The Leinster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Leinster. The Leinster Council has been partnered with the European County Board to help develop Gaelic Games in Europe...
in the inter-provincial hurling competition, however, he never won a Railway Cup medal.