Darragh Leahy
{{Short description|Irish association footballer}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Darragh Leahy
|image =
|full_name = Darragh John Leahy
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|4|15|df=yes}}
|birth_place = Dublin, Republic of Ireland
|height = 177cm
|position = Defender
|currentclub = Waterford
|clubnumber = 15
|youthyears1 = –2015
|youthclubs1 = St. Kevin's Boys
|youthyears2 = 2015–2016
|youthclubs2 = Coventry City
|years1 = 2016–2018
|clubs1 = Coventry City
|caps1 = 0
|goals1 = 0
|years2 = 2016–2017
|clubs2 = → Nuneaton Town (loan)
|caps2 = 7
|goals2 = 0
|years3 = 2017
|clubs3 = → Nuneaton Town (loan)
|caps3 = 0
|goals3 = 0
|years4 = 2018–2019
|clubs4 = Bohemians
|caps4 = 49
|goals4 = 1
|years5 = 2020–2023
|clubs5 = Dundalk
|caps5 = 83
|goals5 = 3
|years6 = 2024–
|clubs6 = Waterford
|caps6 = 48
|goals6 = 4
|nationalyears1 = 2014 | nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland U16
|nationalcaps1 = 5 | nationalgoals1 = 0
|nationalyears2 = 2014–2015 | nationalteam2 = Republic of Ireland U17
|nationalcaps2 = 8 | nationalgoals2 = 0
|nationalyears3 = 2016–2017 | nationalteam3 = Republic of Ireland U19
|nationalcaps3 = 8 | nationalgoals3 = 3
|nationalyears4 = 2019–2020 | nationalteam4 = Republic of Ireland U21
|nationalcaps4 = 10 | nationalgoals4 = 0
|club-update = 23:51, 9 May 2025 (UTC)
|nationalteam-update = 00:34, 18 February 2025 (UTC)
}}
Darragh John Leahy (born 15 April 1998) is an Irish footballer who plays as a defender for League of Ireland Premier Division club Waterford. His former clubs are Coventry City, Nuneaton Town, Bohemians and Dundalk.
Club career
=Early career=
Swords, County Dublin native Leahy grew up supporting Shelbourne{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/herald/sport/soccer/home-fires-burn-for-gypsy-leahy-36596787.html|title=Home fires burn for Gypsy Leahy|publisher=independent.ie}} and started playing his schoolboy football with top Dublin Academy St Kevin's Boys, before earning a move to the Academy of English side Coventry City in 2015.{{Cite web|url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/coventry-city-sign-promising-young-8392765.amp|title=Coventry City sign promising young Ireland defender Darragh Leahy|first=Alan|last=Poole|date=January 6, 2015|website=Coventry Live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/darragh-leahy-interview-3848228-Feb2018/|title='People think it's negative coming back to Ireland - I think of it as another bounce forward'|publisher=the42.ie}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.com/player/11123219/darragh_leahy/|title=Darragh Leahy | Stats | History | Career Details | Images | extratime.com - The Home of Irish Football - Extratime.com|website=www.extratime.com}}
=Coventry City=
Leahy was called up to the Coventry City first team squad during pre-season training in the summer of 2016, playing friendlies against Sturm Graz, Notts County and Norwich City.{{Cite web|url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/i-never-expected-anything-like-11672019.amp|title=Darragh living the Sky Blue dream|date=July 28, 2016|website=Coventry Live}}
==Nuneaton Town loans==
On 4 November 2016, he joined National League North side Nuneaton Town on a short-term loan.https://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/darragh-leahy-youth-loan-coventry-city-nuneaton.-3398771.aspx His loan spell was extended by another month on 11 January 2017, having made 8 appearances for the club up that point.{{Cite web|url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/coventry-city-digest-young-sky-12439765|title=Digest: Sky Blues defender extends stay at Nuneaton Town|first=Mantej|last=Mann|date=January 11, 2017|website=Coventry Live}} The loan was cut short just 10 days later however, with Coventry recalling him with immediate affect.https://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/darragh-leahy-recall-coventry-city-nuneaton-3530666.aspx On 24 November 2017, he joined the club again on another month long loan spell.https://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/2017/november/transfer-darragh-leahy-joins-nuneaton/
=Bohemians=
On 2 January 2018, Leahy signed for League of Ireland Premier Division side Bohemians.{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.com/articles/20189/bohemians-sign-ireland-under-19-defender-darragh-leahy-from-coventry-city/|title=Bohemians sign Ireland under-19 defender Darragh Leahy from Coventry City|first=Brendan|last=Graham|website=extratime.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://bohemianfc.com/?p=11864|title=LEFT-BACK LEAHY JOINS FROM COVENTRY | Bohemian FC|website=bohemianfc.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2018/0102/930694-bohemians-snap-up-leahy-from-coventry-city/|title=Bohemians snap up Leahy from Coventry City|date=January 2, 2018|via=www.rte.ie}} On 14 April 2018, he scored his first career goal in senior football, a 99th-minute winner away to Shamrock Rovers in the Dublin Derby at Tallaght Stadium.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2018/0413/954390-leahys-99th-minute-goal-give-bohs-derby-victory/|title=Leahy's 99th-minute goal gives Bohs derby victory|first=Paul|last=Buttner|date=April 13, 2018|via=www.rte.ie}} He was named in the 2018 PFAI Premier Division Team of the Year by his fellow professionals.{{Cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/michael-duffy-pfai-player-of-the-year-dundalk-league-of-ireland-sse-airtricity-league-4333614-Nov2018/|title=Double-winner Michael Duffy named PFAI Player of the Year following stellar season with Dundalk|first=Aaron|last=Gallagher|date=November 11, 2018|website=The 42}}
=Dundalk=
On 12 December 2019, Leahy signed for League of Ireland Premier Division champions Dundalk ahead of the 2020 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2019/1212/1098759-dundalk-swoop-to-sign-leahy-from-bohemians/|title=Dundalk swoop to sign Leahy from Bohemians|date=December 12, 2019|via=www.rte.ie}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/dundalk-darragh-leahy-transfer-4930604-Dec2019/|title=Ireland U21 defender Leahy joins Dundalk from Bohemians|first=Ben|last=Blake|date=December 12, 2019|website=The 42}} On 6 December 2020, he replaced Sean Gannon from the bench in a 4–2 win over Shamrock Rovers in the 2020 FAI Cup final at the Aviva Stadium.{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.com/fixtures/2020-fai-cup-final/shamrock-rovers-v-dundalk/42676/4/report/|title=FAI Cup Final Report: Shamrock Rovers 2 - 4 Dundalk (Dundalk win after extra-time)|website=extratime.com}} On 12 March 2021, he scored the winning penalty in the shootout as his side defeated Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium to win the 2021 President of Ireland's Cup.{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.com/articles/26744/presidents-cup-final-report-shamrock-rovers-1---1-dundalk-dundalk-win-4-3-on-penalties/|title=President's Cup Final Report: Shamrock Rovers 1 - 1 Dundalk (Dundalk win 4-3 on penalties)|first=Brendan|last=Graham|website=extratime.com}} He spent 4 seasons with the club, scoring 3 goals in 112 appearances in all competitions, before leaving at the end of the 2023 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dundalkfc.com/leahy-moves-to-waterford/|title=LEAHY MOVES TO WATERFORD|first=Gavin|last=McLaughlin|date=December 15, 2023|website=Dundalk Football Club}}
=Waterford=
Leahy signed for newly promoted League of Ireland Premier Division club Waterford on 13 December 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/waterford-make-move-for-dundalk-defender-darragh-leahy/a1760638664.html|title=Waterford make move for Dundalk defender Darragh Leahy|date=December 13, 2023|website=Irish Independent}} He scored his first goals for the club on 23 February 2024, scoring twice in a 4–1 win away to Drogheda United.{{Cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/wateeford-drogheda-report-6308672-Feb2024/|title=Waterford earn emphatic win over hapless Drogheda|first=Barry|last=Landy|date=February 23, 2024|website=The 42}} On 12 November 2024, he signed a new contract with the club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.com/articles/35003/darragh-leahy-and-ben-mccormack-pen-new-deals-waterford-as-niall-okeefe-departs/|title=Darragh Leahy and Ben McCormack pen new deals with Waterford as Niall O'Keefe departs|first=Extratime|last=Team|website=extratime.com}}
International career
Leahy featured for his country right up to under-21 level.{{Cite web|url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/look-who-coventry-citys-new-8393723|title=Who is Coventry City's new Irish starlet Darragh Leahy?|publisher=coventrytelegraph.net}}{{Cite web|url=https://punditarena.com/football/oisinmcqueirns2758/darragh-leahy-dundalk-ireland/|title=Dundalk's Darragh Leahy On Settling At The Champions & U21 Aspirations|publisher=punditarena.com}}
Style of play
Leahy can operate as a central defender or left-back.{{Cite web|url=https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/i-never-expected-anything-like-11672019|title='I never expected anything like this' Young Irish international Darragh Leahy living the dream at Coventry City|publisher=coventrytelegraph.net}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played on 9 May 2025}}{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/darragh-leahy/375189/|title=Republic of Ireland - D. Leahy - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway|website=ie.soccerway.com}}
| class=wikitable style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|National Cup{{efn|Includes FA Cup & FAI Cup}} !colspan=2|League Cup{{efn|Includes EFL Cup & League of Ireland Cup}} !colspan=2|Europe !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="3"|Coventry City
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0{{efn|Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy|name=statsEFLT}} | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0{{efn|name=statsEFLT}} | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Nuneaton Town (loan)
|7 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|Appearance(s) in the FA Trophy|name=statsFAT}} | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||||
| Nuneaton Town (loan)
|0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 0{{efn|name=statsFAT}} | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| rowspan="3"|Bohemians
|2018 |rowspan="2"|LOI Premier Division |24 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0{{efn|Appearance(s) in the Leinster Senior Cup|name=statsLSC}} | 0 | 29 | 2 | ||
| 2019
|25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0{{efn|name=statsLSC}} | 0 | 27 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!49 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 56 | 2 | ||
| rowspan="5"|Dundalk
|2020 |rowspan="4"|LOI Premier Division |8 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 8{{efn|1 appearances in the UEFA Champions League & 7 appearances in the UEFA Europa League}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 19 | 0 | |||
| 2021
|23 | 0 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 6{{efn|Appearance(s) in the UEFA Europa Conference League|name=statsUECL}} | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance in the President of Ireland's Cup|name=statsPOIC}} | 0 | 34 | 0 | ||
| 2022
|28 | 3 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 29 | 3 | ||||
| 2023
|24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 4{{efn|name=statsUECL}} | 0 | 0{{efn|name=statsLSC}} | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!83 | 3 | 10 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 112 | 3 | ||
| rowspan="3"|Waterford
|2024 |rowspan="2"|LOI Premier Division |33 | 2 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|Appearance(s) in the Munster Senior Cup|name=statsMSC}} | 0 | 36 | 2 | |||
| 2025
|15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|name=statsMSC}} | 0 | 16 | 2 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!48 | 4 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | 52 | 4 | |||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!187 | 8 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 228 | 9 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
=Club=
;Dundalk
- FAI Cup (1): 2020
- President of Ireland's Cup (1): 2021
=Individual=
References
{{reflist}}
{{Waterford F.C. squad}}
{{2018 PFAI League of Ireland Premier Division Team of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leahy, Darragh}}
Category:Coventry City F.C. players
Category:Nuneaton Town F.C. players
Category:Bohemian F.C. players
Category:Waterford F.C. players
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:League of Ireland players
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Association footballers from County Dublin
Category:21st-century Irish sportsmen
Category:Republic of Ireland men's youth international footballers
Category:Republic of Ireland men's under-21 international footballers