Rooney leads Leitrim to comfortable win in Dungarvan

They had a job to do and inspired by a superb Darragh Rooney, Leitrim certainly did it well last Sunday in Fraher Field as they outclassed Waterford with relative ease to open the 2024 Allianz NFL Division 4 campaign with a comfortable 15 point victory in Dungarvan.

With Leitrim fans vastly outnumbering the home support despite a journey of almost four hours down to the south coast, this felt like a home game for Andy Moran’s side as they took control early and never let go.

Darragh Rooney gave an exhibition at full-forward, hitting ten points including five from frees as he tormented the Waterford defence with his pace and movement over the entire 62 minutes he was on the field. In fact, he could have had 11 points as he was lining up a free when substituted on an impressive afternoon for the Kinlough man.

League is the GAA's problem child

THE LAST POINT

It was that sort of a day for Leitrim when so many players impressed and it left the Green & Gold fans cheering each substitution appreciately, certainly making the long journey more than worthwhile for the diehard fans.

This performance had everything a manager a manager could want - Leitrim were aggressive, they scored well and worked hard, remained disciplined and handed out three League debuts to Jamie McGrail, Jack Foley and Cathal McHugh with McGrail and Foley both landing points, so all in all, it was a pretty good day.

Having said all that, Waterford were well off the pace both in terms of intensity and ability and the loss of up to half a dozen regulars this year has left them in a bad place. They were unable to counter Leitrim’s physical power and fitness but they did expose a real areas that may cause concern for the Green & Gold.

Even with a paucity of possession and Leitrim dominating most areas, the Deise created four or five really good goal chances that a better team would undoubtedly take in what was the only concern from an impressive outing.

Leitrim started brightly despite a Ryan O’Rourke wide but Shane Quinn opened the scoring for the visitors with a wonderful 40 yard effort from the wing two minutes in. A minute later, Darragh Rooney converted a free before adding another on eight minutes after a foul on Donal Wrynn.

Waterford were managing the odd foray into the Leitrim half, playing deep against the wind but they had wides from defenders Dermot Ryan and Ross Browne while Rooney (play and free) and Riordan O’Rourke both missed chances.

Michael Curry hit a well worked effort to open the home team’s account after 16 minutes but Leitrim responded well, Rooney converting a 50 yard effort but Jamie McGrail marked his League debut with a fine effort from out on the wing.

Another debutant followed two minutes later when Jack Foley fisted the ball over the bar after Barry McNulty’s strong run and pass across the goal created the chance for a fisted goal, the Kiltubrid man seeing his fisted effort go over the bar.

Waterford should have had a goal on 24 minutes when the Deise broke at pace, swapped and a few passes and found midfielder Jack Keane bearing down on goal, ten yards out, but he lifted his shot far too high over the bar.

Waterford Liam Fennell and Ryan O’Rourke were both yellow carded in separate incidents, Jason Curry put a free wide before a long delivery towards McNulty was batted out by the defence, Riordan O’Rourke gathered to set up Darragh Rooney for his fourth point of the first half.

Nevin O’Donnell, up in support of his attack, put a shot from distance wide and from a poor kickout, Jack Foley was denied a goal with a timely block as Leitrim led 0-7 to 0-2 at the break.

With the wind that they had in the first half, a five point lead didn’t look good but whatever was said at halftime, Leitrim and Darragh Rooney came out firing on all cylinders in the second half. Straight from the throw-in, Leitrim worked the ball to the Kinlough man for a quick point.

Barely a minute later, the St Jude’s clubman scored a brilliant effort from out on the left wing before quickly adding two more from frees to stretch Leitrim’s lead to nine points inside four minutes of the second half.

Barry McNulty was very unlucky not to goal on five minutes when he got his fist to a Pearce Dolan shot that feel short before Waterford fired over a well worked point on nine minutes. Waterford turned over the kickout but an ambitious attempt on goal went well wide.

Aidan Flynn hit a fine point before we got two goals in as many minutes - the first came after good work from Ryan O’Rourke created an opportunity for Darragh Rooney to run at the Waterford defence from in along the endline. A pass across the goal came to sub Evan Sweeney and despite his own self-depreciation in admitting a defender might have got a touch to it, it appeared as if the Glencar Manorhamilton player got the final touch to the net.

However, Leitrim celebrations were short-lived, Waterford put together a good move, a cross across the face of the goal saw a flying Dermot Ryan get the final touch for a goal against the run of play.

Rooney and Ryan swapped points before Stephen Curry missed a great goal chance for the home side, a long ball intercepted and leaving Leitrim’s defence open but he shot badly wide. Darragh Rooney responded with a quick fire point to take his tally to ten for the day.

Waterford kept creating chances with a footblock on Waterford sub Tom O’Connell leading to a penalty and a yellow card for Leitrim sub Cathal McHugh, also making his debut, but Nevin O’Donnell made a good stop from Jason Curry’s spot kick at the expense of a fifty, which Curry also put wide.

Sub Alan Dunwoody hit Waterford’s last point with just over six minutes of normal time left but Leitrim were finding oceans of room against a badly tiring Deise, Shane Quinn, Pearce Dolan and Riordan O’Rourke all pointed with relative ease.

Still Waterford were creating chances and it took two solid blocks to prevent a goal chance. Leitrim finished with a late goal, aided by good fortune when Paul Keaney’s late free came off the crossbar and with keeper and defender badly out of position, Riordan O’Rourke virtually tapped the ball to the net for an easy goal.

Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins celebrate amazing year at club's dinner dance - GALLERY

Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins were out in force in the Slieve Russell Hotel on Saturday January 20, as they celebrated an amazing year for their Ladies team at the Club's Dinner Dance. Observer photographer Willie Donnellan was there to capture the occasion ... see who you can spot!

LEITRIM

Scorers: D Rooney 0-10, 5f; Riordan O'Rourke 1-1; Evan Sweeney 1-0, Shane Quinn 0-2, Jamie McGraill, Jack Foley, Aidan Flynn, Pearce Dolan 0-1 each

Team: Nevin O’Donnell (Shannon Gaels Cavan), Conor Reynolds (Annaduff), Donal Casey (Leitrim Gaels), Aidan Flynn(Leitrim Gaels), Jamie McGrail (Ballinaglera), Mark Diffley (St Mary’s Kiltoghert); Jack Foley (Kiltubrid); Jack Gilheaney (Fenagh St Caillins); Pearce Dolan (Aughawillan); Shane Quinn (Mohill); Barry McNulty (Glencar Manorhamilton); Ryan O’Rourke (Fenagh St Caillins); Riordan O’Rourke (Fenagh St Caillins), Darragh Rooney (St Judes Dublin), Donal Wrynn (Fenagh St Caillins). Subs: Evan Sweeney (Glencar Manorhamilton) for Gilheaney (39), James Rooney (Glencar Manorhamilton) for Flynn (Blood, 50-58), Cathal McHugh (Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins) for McGreal (55), J Rooney for Wrynn (64), Paul Keaney (St Mary’s Kiltoghert) for Ryan O'Rourke (67), Mark Plunkett (Aughawillan) for D Rooney (70)

WATERFORD

Scorers: D Ryan 1-2, M Curry, J Keane, A Dunwoody (f) 0-1 each.

Team: A Beresford; R Browne, L Fennell, C McCarthy; R McGrath, C Ó Cuirrín, D Ryan J Keane, M Curry; M O'Brien, S Whelan Barrett, J Curry; S Curry, W Beresford, N McSweeney. Subs: B O'Keeffe for McSweeney (25), A Dunwoody for O'Brien (32), B Hynes for Keane (43), C Mac Craith for McGrath (47), T O'Connell for W Beresford (57)

Referee: J Hayes (Limerick)