*Gary Leahy in action for Wolfe Tones. Photograph: Mike Brennan.
TEN YEARS on from captaining Wolfe Tones to win the intermediate football championship, Gary Leahy was back playing a pivotal role for the Shannon side and he said their latest success much sweeter.
Leahy has been the main target man for Wolfe Tones during the Clare IFC and again he caused problems in Saturday’s four point win over Naomh Eoin, kicking the opening score of the second half and setting up several more.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Gary admitted, “It is probably sweeter than the last one ten years ago, it was horrible and brutal conditions when we came out in the second half, it was just a monsoon but to win it is unbelievable to follow up on the hurlers last week. Everyone doubted us but we proved we are a good team. Ten years ago I was captain but to win this one is extra sweet, the lads to be fair have worked hard all year and they deserved every bit of it”.
Relegated from the senior ranks in 2018, Gary believed there was greater commitment from the Tones this season which led to their promotion. “I think everyone just buckled down, we’re a good team and things opened up. In the intermediate football, you can get through the group and then take it on from the quarter-finals, we buckled down, everyone worked hard, everyone got into the gym programme and Kieran Ryan to be fair came up with a great game plan so everything fell together and there was a knock-on effect from the hurling, it is good times for the club, we’ll enjoy the next I’ll say one night but I think you know me better than that Paudie so we’ll enjoy the next few days and we’ll see how that goes, obviously we’ve the Munster club semi-finals in both hurling and football so we should give that a crack and see what happens”.
When they overcame Corofin following a replay to win the title in 2014, Gary was part of an experienced side which also included current manager Johnny Bridges, current selector Barry Murphy, Brian O’Connell, Stephen McInerney and Kevin Cahill.
He was one of four survivors from then alongside Aaron Brennan, Joe McGauley and Chris Dunning. “All the young lads stood up, last year they probably weren’t ready to make the step up and that cost us against Kilrush but they have led us this year. You can see the lads like Chippy (Chris Dunning), Aza (Aaron Brennan) and myself were there ten years ago, we don’t say anything now in the dressing room because it is them leading it, they are the reason we are standing here with the cup”.
Inside the first five minutes, Wolfe Tones led 1-2 0-0 and by the half time whistle they maintained a five point advantage. “We went at them, in finals you don’t know what way it will go, we thought it could be frantic for ten minutes and we got off to a great start with Aaron Brennan scoring a goal when he was going for a point, a bit of luck like that and you know things are going for you, we were blessed with the start”.
