Donal_Leahy
Donal Leahy
Irish footballer
Donal Leahy (31 August 1938 – 31 December 2015) was an Irish footballer known for his career as a wing-half.[1] He predominantly played for his hometown club, Evergreen. On 15 September 1956, Leahy marked his debut by scoring in a match against Shamrock Rovers at Glenmalure Park, which concluded in a 3–1 defeat for Evergreen in the League of Ireland Shield.
 | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
He came to Evergreen's notice after starring for Munster Youths against West Germany Youths at The Mardyke in May 1956. Leahy turned down Aston Villa and Blackburn in 1957 to remain in Cork.
Manager Tommy Moroney switched him to a striking role which proved to be an inspired move as he was the top scorer in the League of Ireland for three seasons running from the 1956-57 League of Ireland season to the 1958-59 League of Ireland season.
Leahy scored on his Inter-League debut against the Irish League XI in March 1957.[2] His prolific scoring rate in his debut season impressed the international selectors enough to place him on standby for the 1958 FIFA World Cup qualification tie against England national football team on 19 May 1957. Little did he know that the game's politics dictated that he would never win that international honour.
On 3 May 1959, Leahy scored the only goal of the game as Evergreen beat Shamrock Rovers in the Top Four Cup Final at Dalymount Park to earn his first senior medal.
On 5 October 1960 he scored the League of Ireland XI's only goal in a heavy defeat to the Scottish League, an overhead kick, in front of 23,000 fans at Celtic Park.
On 21 January 1962 he scored five goals in Cork Celtic's 8–2 win over St. Patrick's Athletic at Richmond Park (football ground).
In the 1964 FAI Cup Final, Leahy scored the equaliser against Shamrock Rovers at Dalymount Park, but Celtic lost the replay. After this season, disc trouble made maintaining the sharpness needed for a striking role difficult. He enjoyed the 1964-65 League of Ireland season in midfield but it didn't stop him becoming the first Cork player to score in European competition at PFC Slavia Sofia in the 1964–65 European Cup Winners' Cup.
In February 1967 Leahy requested a transfer saying he was anxious for a change of club[3]
He also played fullback in the 1967-68 League of Ireland season, the only one of his 14 seasons in which he failed to score in the League of Ireland. The following season, he took charge of Celtic's reserve team, gradually phasing himself out of first-team football, but he was first choice again when the Cup came around and helped the club reach the 1969 FAI Cup Final.
However, he stayed on until December 1969, when he resigned to play non league with Tramore Athletic. Then Limerick persuaded him back into the LOI[4] where he scored on his debut at the Markets Field[5]
He retired with back problems at the end of the 1969-70 League of Ireland season.
During his time at his hometown club, he played in every position.
Leahy came out of retirement to score the winner in Billy Lord's testimonial in May 1976 at Milltown.
In March 1995 Donal Leahy was inducted into the National League Legends roll of honour at a function in Dublin.
When Pat Morley broke his cork record of 162 League of Ireland goals in November 1999, Leahy was there to congratulate him.
At the end of the 2013 League of Ireland season Leahy is joint fifth in the all-time League of Ireland goalscoring list with 162 league goals[6]