Leitrim ending losing streak brings relief for manager Andy Moran

Hard to believe that Sunday’s 2-17 to 1-5 Allianz Division 4 victory over Waterford in Fraher Field was Leitrim’s first since last March but manager Andy Moran admitted it was a relief for the Green & Gold to end their losing streak with a strong performance in Dungarvan.

Speaking after the win, Andy admitted “We didn’t mention it to the boys but if I’m being honest, it is in the back of everybody’s minds, we hadn’t won since we beat Laois in the second last round of the League last March. All of a sudden, we’re on the winning train again and hopefully we can build on it.”

Sunday was a relatively comfortable victory albeit with a few moments that the manager identified that caused concern but he would like to see Leitrim building on that victory: “It was funny because we weren’t worried at all at halftime, it was one of those where we knew we had the work done, we knew our fitness would take off.

“We had a great start to the second half, which really, really helped us and it pushed us out to a comfortable level. But with us, we’re still never comfortable - I’d love to get to a point where myself, yourself and all the Leitrim folk here, if we’re seven, eight nine points up, we know we’re away. We’ve done that over the past two, three years and I’m waiting for the day that we’re comfortable.”

ROONEY LEADS LEITRIM TO COMFORTABLE VICTORY IN DUNGARVAN

The loss of Jack Gilheaney and Waterford creating three or four goal chances didn’t help Moran’s own comfort level at times! “It didn’t help us that Gilheaney went off because he is the rock, the holder, but it was a really solid performance. You’d be happy with the amount of scores we got, wouldn’t be happy with the goal chances we gave up but in the first round of the League, you’re looking for points, you’re away from home, get them and move on.”

The impact of Darragh Rooney on the game was apparent to all and the Leitrim manager felt that the Kinlough man’s performance helped them overcome a team that has proven to be a bogey for Leitrim in Dungarvan down through the years: “I remember when we came down here two years ago and you said the same thing to me because I only found out the week of the game that Waterford are a tricky game for us.

“I remember talking to Joe Keane last year at the end of last year and we were talking about Waterford and he said, bar Keith here two years ago, you’d have been in trouble and that's the way it was today, Darragh produced it here today just to keep us that stone’s throw ahead.

“Darragh was the top scorer in the Dublin Senior Championship this year. You saw the potential in Darragh long before I saw it, long before I came near the place Darragh showed flashes and then just went off the thing a tiny bit. St Jude’s has done him the world of good, he is a model pro for us, he is our vice-captain and we have huge, huge belief in him and we just keep to drive him on.”

Moran also sang the praise of half-back League debutants Jack Foley and Jamie McGrail: “We put Foley on a man marking job in the second half, on Dermot Ryan who is a fabulous player and has always caused us trouble in the past and caused us trouble today but Foley did a magnificent job, stuck to it, was disciplined. 

“Jack is playing full-back for NUIG Freshers team and he did a great job for us. I know he has got a great pedigree. On the other side, you have young McGrail, he is a dinger of a young lad, a great footballer. I remember ringing him last July asking him where are you, why aren’t you coming to the gym and he hasn’t missed a gym session since. 

“He has driven it one, brilliant in the dome that night. What I love about him is that he goes for 50 minutes and he can’t run any further and if a fella is willing to do that, away we go. Everyone must be wondering why we took him off in the dome?

"We took him off because he had nothing left in him, we had to take him off but he has been brilliant about the place, the boys love him - he is just a terrier and I think you need him. Is it going to work out for him every day? No, it’s not but today he has an exceptionally good game and I’m delighted for him.”

TEAM OF THE WEEK NOD FOR DARRAGH ROONEY

Next up is London and the Leitrim boss is expecting a tough battle next Sunday: “We’re at home, Pairc Sean, hopefully there will be a good crowd there. London and ourselves are absolutely brilliant battles. I sent Liam Gavaghan, who retired there, a text and he just goes the best battles were against Leitrim, we brought out the best in each other. 

“I’m sure it will be no different week, we’re hoping we can build on today. I heard they had a good performance against Wexford, didn’t get over the line, they’ll be looking for a good result against us and isn’t it exciting to be going in with two points.”

Speaking in another interview, Moran also spoke of Keith Beirne possibly returning: “He's working very hard away from it to try and get back in. It's a waiting process. We just have to see if Keith wants to commit and if he puts in the work to get back in. What a player and we would love to have him back in at some stage.”