Leahy was a "late starter" to hurling and only started playing at the age of 12.
[1] He played as a student at Glanmire Community College and lined out in all grades during his time there.
Leahy later studied at Cork Institute of Technology and played in the Fitzgibbon Cup.
He won a Cork Premier MHC medal in 2007 before making his senior team debut a year later.
Leahy lined out in Cork's first three National Hurling League games before the strike ended.