Premier SHC: Sarsfields' Craig Leahy relishing return to county final

Sarsfields full-back Craig Leahy is among those targeting a fifth county SFC medal in tomorrow’s final against Midleton.

Still a teenager, Leahy lined out at centre-back as Sars beat Bride Rovers in 2008 while further victories followed in 2010, 2012 and 2014 as well as three defeats in finals.

That it would take eight years after the 2015 loss to Glen Rovers for Sars to make it back to a decider has been surprising but, now that they are there again, Leahy is keen to make the most of the opportunity.

“In 2007, we got to a minor final – against Midleton – and then the following year got to a senior final,” he says.

“It went on from that and when you’re young, you just think, ‘This is what happens when you get to senior hurling, you play in the final every year – win one and maybe lose one.’

“This year is the first time in eight years we’ve got to one and there’s been a big turnover of players so I think that makes you appreciate it all the more when it does come again.

“You appreciate what it means – for yourself personally but also to the area.

“That first year we won it, Teddy McCarthy was a selector, Paddy Lambe was and Willie Barry, Joe’s dad.

“They’ve sadly passed away over the last number of years. I think, as you get older, you realise more what it means to the club.”

The passing of time has meant that Leahy, who works for engineering firm Jacobs, is now one of the elder statesmen as a new generation of Sars stars prepare to experience their first final.

“Garvan McCarthy, we would have played with him and now his two nephews are playing, Cathal and Colm,” he says.

“The young lads have really driven this thing, the last few years in particular. In fairness to Johnny and the lads this year, they’ve given the autonomy to the younger lads – ‘This is your team now.’

“Players like Aaron Myers, Paul Leopold, Killian Murphy have really grasped the nettle. I probably feel like an old man training sometimes but it’s great to see these fellas step and deliver on the championship stage with what we see regularly down here.”

Having missed the 2022 championship campaign with a broken tibia, Leahy was a frustrated spectator as Sars failed to qualify from the group stages.

He returned against Blackrock in the league this year, helping Sars to go on and win that competition, and he has excelled in the run to the county final.

“At the time, I just wanted to get back playing hurling, whether it was junior, intermediate or senior.

“I was mad to get back in January but I’d have to give credit to [manager] Johnny [Crowley] and the management, they made sure I didn’t rush things – I didn’t need to, with the way the championship is.”

Assisting Crowley is coach Diarmuid O’Sullivan. While his impact has been hailed by all at Sars, for Leahy – converted to full-back by Pat Ryan after Joe Barry’s retirement – it is extra helpful.

“Sully has been class,” Leahy says, “his level of detail and preparation is unreal.

“He has really brought an inter-county standard to what we’re doing here and he’s great for advice about conditioning and marking and so.

“The game has probably changed a small bit since he was full-back himself but his knowledge of the current game is second to none.

“The advice he gives you, you can’t put a price on it. I can remember going up to All-Ireland finals when Sully was in his pomp and it’s still unreal to have him down here.

“He’s doing great work for us.”

However, Leahy hasn’t been wearing the number 3 jersey – Sars captain Conor O’Sullivan was named there the championship opener against Kanturk but couldn’t start.

O’Sullivan has kept 3 during the championship, making key interventions from the bench, while Leahy has 19 on his back.

“My wife Amanda has turned into a superstition alright,” Leahy says, “as our son Sam was born on May 19 and she reckons there’s something to it!

“I don’t mind though, I’d take number 33 if I had to.”