NEWMARKET CELTIC’s bid to retain their title as CDSL Premier Division champions has received a major boost.
Leahy’s signing from Shannon Hibs to Celtic was a key reason in their unprecedented success last season when they became the first Clare club to win the FAI Junior Cup.
Many of the club’s supporters and neutrals have pointed to his injury in the Munster Junior Cup final as a significant component behind their loss to Regional Utd in May. Celtic had been leading 2-0 at half time, Leahy having broken the deadlocked but conceded two goals in the second half and ended up losing on penalties.
Following his exploits for Celtic, Leahy attracted the attention of Ballynanty Rovers FC. A move to the Limerick club followed at the beginning of this season but it was one that proved not to work for either party and has resulted in the Shannon native’s pending return to Celtic.
Newmarket Celtic manager, Paddy Purcell will be pleased with the return of the twenty seven year old, the former Limerick FC great was a big influence in signing Darragh initially, paying a visit to the family home in Cronan to get him on board.
In Darragh’s absence, Celtic were eliminated from the FAI Junior Cup by rivals Avenue Utd and bowed out of the Munster Junior Cup to Mungret Regional FC. They did add further silverware, winning the Tom Hand Cup and President’s Cup.
Celtic captain Eoin Hayes previously described Leahy as “an enigmatic character” during an interview with The Clare Echo when praising the workrate he brings to the fold for each and every outing.
Leahy in his most in-depth and honest interview prior to the Munster Junior Cup final told The Clare Echo how the amount of people from Shannon writing him off and telling him he wasn’t good enough to play for Newmarket and that they were finished was a huge motivation.
He added, “You’re playing junior soccer so there are really good players but everyone is going to make a mistake, have a bad touch or something so if you are there to capitalise, if I did a bit more work on my finishing I’d be a good striker but if you work hard everyone will work hard behind you, I play up top so if my midfielder sees I’m running, hassling or win a corner off a dead ball, it’s just a massive boost for the team”.
Darragh’s return comes a week after Purcell gave first team debuts to four youngsters in a friendly including Clare youths winger Ché Burke and Shaun Kenny. It also comes during an emotional week for the club following the death of Paudie Cullinan who managed the club to win their first Premier Division title in 2008/09.
