Pat Leahy (hurler)
Encyclopedia
Pat Leahy was an Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Dungourney
and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1902 until 1907.
team in Cork and enjoyed some success. He won three county senior championship
titles in all, with these victories coming in 1902, 1907 and 1909.
provided the opposition, however, Cork were the winners by 2-9 to 1-5 and Leahy collected a coveted Munster
winners’ medal. Galway
and Dublin
were later defeated as Cork booked their place in the All-Ireland final with London
providing the opposition. The game was played in Cork
to mark the opening of the new Cork Athletic Ground
. Leahy's side made no mistake on this occasion and powered to a 3-13 to 0-0 victory. It was a huge triumph for Cork and gave Leahy a coveted All-Ireland
winners’ medal.
Leahy did not take part in any inter-county activity for the next few years, however, in 1907 he finally picked up a second Munster winners’ medal following a 1-6 to 1-4 defeat of Tipperary
. Cork later reached the All-Ireland final with Kilkenny
providing the opposition. A high-scoring, but close, game developed between these two great rivals once again. As the game entered the final stage there was little to separate the two sides. Jimmy Kelly
scored three first-half goals while Jack Anthony
scored Kilkenny’s winning point at the death. Cork went on two late goal hunts; however, the final score of 3-12 to 4-8 gave Kilkenny the win. It was Leahy's last All-Ireland final appearance.
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 with his local club Dungourney
Dungourney GAA
Dungourney GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Dungourney, County Cork, Ireland. The club fields teams in both Gaelic football and hurling. It is a member of the Imokilly division of Cork GAA. The club was one of the strongest clubs in the Cork during the first decade of the 20th...
and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1902 until 1907.
Club
Leahy played his club hurling with the famous DungourneyDungourney GAA
Dungourney GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Dungourney, County Cork, Ireland. The club fields teams in both Gaelic football and hurling. It is a member of the Imokilly division of Cork GAA. The club was one of the strongest clubs in the Cork during the first decade of the 20th...
team in Cork and enjoyed some success. He won three county senior championship
Cork Senior Hurling Championship
The Evening Echo Cork County Senior Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in the county of Cork in Ireland....
titles in all, with these victories coming in 1902, 1907 and 1909.
Inter-county
Leahy first tasted success on the inter-county scene with Cork in 1902 when he lined out in his first Munster final. LimerickLimerick 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, however, Cork were the winners by 2-9 to 1-5 and Leahy collected a coveted 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....
winners’ medal. 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,...
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...
were later defeated as Cork booked their place in the All-Ireland final with London
London GAA
The London County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or London GAA is one of the county boards outside Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in London...
providing the opposition. The game was played in Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
to mark the opening of the new Cork Athletic Ground
Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Páirc Uí Chaoimh is a Gaelic Athletic Association stadium in the Ballintemple area of Cork in Ireland, where major hurling and Gaelic football matches are played. It is the home of Cork GAA...
. Leahy's side made no mistake on this occasion and powered to a 3-13 to 0-0 victory. It was a huge triumph for Cork and gave Leahy a coveted 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....
winners’ medal.
Leahy did not take part in any inter-county activity for the next few years, however, in 1907 he finally picked up a second Munster winners’ medal following a 1-6 to 1-4 defeat of 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...
. Cork later reached the All-Ireland final with 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...
providing the opposition. A high-scoring, but close, game developed between these two great rivals once again. As the game entered the final stage there was little to separate the two sides. Jimmy Kelly
Jimmy Kelly (hurler)
Jimmy Kelly was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Mooncoin and with the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 1904 until 1913....
scored three first-half goals while Jack Anthony
Jack Anthony (hurler)
Jack Anthony was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Piltown and with the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 1904 until 1907....
scored Kilkenny’s winning point at the death. Cork went on two late goal hunts; however, the final score of 3-12 to 4-8 gave Kilkenny the win. It was Leahy's last All-Ireland final appearance.
Sources
- Corry, Eoghan, The GAA Book of Lists (Hodder Headline Ireland, 2005).
- Cronin, Jim, A Rebel Hundred: Cork's 100 All-Ireland Titles.
- Donegan, Des, The Complete Handbook of Gaelic Games (DBA Publications Limited, 2005).