05-05-2025
Kian Leavy finally feeling fitter than ever at St Pat's after ‘missing three' of his five years in England
KIAN LEAVY reckons he is back to his best after scoring his first goal of the season.
St Pat's midfielder Leavy was shaping up for a big year before an ankle injury picked up before the start of the campaign saw him miss their first seven games.
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He is well used to long lay-offs but the Ardee man made it back quicker than expected.
And, after four substitute appearances, he has started the last two games and scored the opener in Friday's 2-0 win over Galway United.
Leavy said: 'I'd say this was the best, the fittest I've ever been in pre-season and then to get the injury before the start of the season was a tough blow.
'I have to give credit to the physio team, they got me back way quicker than expected, it was unbelievable.
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'The whole off season I just worked as hard as I could because I knew this was going to be a big year.
'There is a special team here and you want to be playing every week so you know that you have to work hard.
'We're back now and hopefully now I can stay in the team.
"You can see the way we finished last season — nine wins in a row.
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"There is a brilliant backroom staff as well, you just felt there was something good happening. Hopefully we can go and make that season special this year.'
The 23-year-old insisted he was not mentally rocked because he is accustomed to having to overcome set-backs.
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His only two appearances for Reading were in the League Cup with his hopes of a significant breakthrough not helped by spells on the treatment table.
Leavy said: 'I'm well used to dealing with stuff like that.
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"I tore my ACL, two stress fractures in my back and a stress fracture in the top of my shin.
'I was over in England for five years and missed three years of it.
"As soon as you find out the news it's like, 'Right, how quick can we get back?' I was in the matchday squad seven weeks after an operation so I'll take that every day of the week.
'It took me a couple of weeks to get going but now I feel back to the level of pre-season and it was great to get off the mark early.'
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Leavy scored after playing a one-two with Aidan Keena, himself back after seven weeks on the sidelines.
Despite being pushed wide, he squeezed the ball in via the foot of Brendan Clarke.
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Leavy has endured a lot of injury heartache despite still only being 23
He said: 'I had a similar one against Shels in my first game back where I was at the same angle and I tried to go near post.
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'This time I said, 'Right, try go across the keeper'. Thankfully it found its way into the net.'
It was a good response to throwing away three points against Bohs the previous week when they leaked two late goals.
Leavy said: 'The way last week we conceded two late goals, to hold out was a good test of character.
"There is a very strong changing room, the likes of Chris Forrester and Seán Hoare, who have been there and done it all.
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'You've got Joe Redmond as captain so it's a very strong group and we know we're better than we showed. It was about bouncing back.'
Stephen Kenny's men will hope to back it up against Derry City today with St Pat's setting the pace despite not finding their best form yet.
Leavy added: 'We haven't really got going and you're top so it's a big boost for us.
'If you can go on a run you don't know where it can take you when everyone is drawing or teams are all breathing down on each other.'
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