Job done as Leitrim ease past stubborn Waterford

Tougher than many of us had expected, Leitrim opened their Tailteann Cup campaign with a comfortable victory over a dogged Waterford in Pairc Sheain Ui Eslin, Ballinamore on Saturday.

Waterford were a vastly improved outfit from the side brushed aside in Dungarvan at the start of the Allianz League and when they trailed by just a point at the break, there were murmurs of discontent among the crowd in Ballinamore.

But the second half saw Leitrim assert their dominance as they hit the visitors for six unanswered points to all but put the game to bed, holding Waterford scoreless for the first 23 minutes of the second half and easing their way to a deserved victory.

Scoring seventeen points is not to sneered at with a lively Ryan O’Rourke in the first half hitting five from play and keeper Nevin O’Donnell converting three second half frees but it was missed goal chances that might concern manager Andy Moran as the Green & Gold wasted four chances that might have put this game to bed much earlier than it was.

Credit Waterford keeper Aaron Beresford for three wonderful saves but it must be a concern that Leitrim haven’t raised a green flag since the Carlow game in the Allianz League, albeit the point scoring rate has been consistently high.

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Truth be told, a defiant Waterford made this game a bit more uncomfortable than we expected but there was never a sense that Leitrim were in any danger and Moran’s men achieved the most important objective, a victory that puts them in a good position to qualify for the knockout stages.

Leitrim got into the swing of things quickly with Barry McNulty’s run setting up Ryan O’Rourke for a lovely 40 yard point after less than half a minute. Darragh Rooney burst through at incredible pace barely a minute later and looked as if he had goal on his mind but lifted his shot too high over the bar.

Tom Prior made it three before two minutes had passed when a sideline ball came to Ryan O’Rourke, the Fenagh man found his Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins clubman in space to fire over.

But any notion that we were going to be in for a repeat of Fraher Field earlier this year was quickly dispelled as a block on a Darragh Rooney shot saw Waterford move the ball the length of the field for Michael Curry to open the visitor’s account four minutes in.

Pearce Dolan shot wide before Jason Curry converted a long range free to cut the gap to a point and the blistering pace continued as Waterford’s Robbie McGrath shot wide at one end before a blistering Jack Foley run off a kickout led to a great goal chance for Darragh Rooney but Waterford keeper Aaron Beresford made a wonderful save to deny him a certain goal.

Pearce Dolan was busy, getting booked before finishing off a patient, well worked Leitrim move with a point on 12 minutes. Riordan O’Rourke shot wide before he combined with Tom Prior to set up cousin Ryan for his second point, Waterford immediately hitting back when a low ball was gathered out in front by Tom O’Connell for an excellent score.

The gap was back to a point when Stephen Curry curled a wonderful shot from the corner over the Letirim crossbar but it was more than matched by a wonderful effort from Ryan O’Rourke seconds later from the left hand corner. 

The Leitrim team who defeated Waterford in the Tailteann Cup on Saturday Picture: Stefan Hoare

Two minutes later, Pearce Dolan intercepted a pass meant for Waterford’s Liam Fennell and a quick break led to another Ryan O’Rourke score, although he was unlucky when a fisted attempt for a point came off the woodwork and was cleared.

Michael Curry and O’Connell registered bad wides for Waterford before O’Rourke hit the target again from his sweet spot in the left corner to leave Leitrim four clear after 28 minutes. However, Waterford weren’t for collapsing and with Aaron Beresford coming straight up the middle of the field with the ball, an off-load found Tholom Guiry for a fine point.

A strong run from James Walsh and an off-load allowed Stephen Curry fire over and Waterford hit three unanswered points for the first time when Liam Fennell charged up the centre of the Leitrim defence to cut the gap back to a point.

Darragh Rooney halted Waterford’s surge, taking a long ball from Ryan O’Rourke and holding off a defender to score but the Deise went close to a goal just before halftime, a good move seeing the ball floated across the face of the Leitrim goal where Tom O’Connell was waiting to pounce only for Tom Prior to palm the ball away, the ball going out for a fifty that was converted by Jason Curry.

That left Leitrim leading 0-9 to 0-8 with the home fans quite uneasy at the halftime break. Andy Moran reacted by withdrawing both Pearce Dolan and Adam Reynolds, both booked during the first half, with Jack Flynn and Evan Sweeney coming on and once again, the home side should have started with a goal.

Barry McNulty was found completely unmarked in front of goal but Aaron Beresford made a wonderful save to divert the shot out for a fifty that was converted by Nevin O’Donnell. With Leitrim flooding the middle much more to combat Waterford’s surges up the centre, scores were less plentiful.

Aidan Flynn showed great initiative when referee Niall Cullen penalised a Waterford foul, bursting into space on the far wing. A quick delivery found the Leitrim Gaels clubman and his strong run and a 1-2 with Tom Prior led to a fine point for the cornerback.

Ryan O’Rourke saw a shot drop short before Barry McNulty opened up a four point gap eight minutes into the half.

Beresford again came to Waterford’s rescue when Riordan O’Rourke’s run created the space for Ryan O’Rourke but the Deise netminder made a wonderful low save, diverting the ball out for a fifty converted by O’Donnell again.

Barry McNulty stretched the lead to six points midway through the second half before Jack Gilheaney claimed a mark, found Evan Sweeney who set up Riordan O’Rourke for a good point. 

With Waterford having failed to score during the second half, it looked as if Leitrim might push on for a big win but Waterford dug deep as Leitrim hit a couple of wides, Tom O’Connell getting their first score 23 minutes into the second half from a free.

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Errors were costing Waterford, a misplaced pass leading to a Leitrim sideline that Evan Sweeney hit quickly to a charging Aidan Flynn to score with ten minutes left in the half. Waterford came back with two converted frees from sub Alan Dunwoody and O’Connell.

With both sides running in subs and the game becoming disjointed with Waterford losing Liam Fennell to a second yellow card on 67 minutes, Leitrim’s last score came from a 45 yard O’Donnell free after a foul on McNulty following a mark with the last score falling to O’Connell from a free in the last minute of normal time.

LEITRIM

Scorers: Ryan O’Rourke 0-5; Nevin O’Donnell 0-3, 2 50s, 1f; Aidan Flynn, Darragh Rooney & Barry McNulty 0-2 each; Pearce Dolan, Riordan O’Rourke & Tom Prior 0-1 each

Team: Nevin O'Donnell; Adam Reynolds, Mark Diffley, Aidan Flynn; Cathal McHugh, Radek Oberwan, Jack Foley; Jack Gilheaney, Pearce Dolan; Barry McNulty, Ryan O'Rourke, Donal Wrynn; Riordan O'Rourke, Darragh Rooney, Tom Prior. Subs: Jack Flynn & Evan Sweeney for A Reynolds & Dolan (HT), Conor Reynolds for McHugh (51), Darren Cox & Shane Quinn for D Rooney & Oberwan (65)

WATERFORD

Scorers: Tom O’Connell 0-4, 3f; Stephen Curry & Jason Curry (50) 0-2 each; Liam Fennell, Michael Curry, Tholom Guiry & Alan Dunwoody 0-1 each 

Team: Aaron Beresford; Ross Browne, Caoimhín Walsh, Liam Fennell; Robbie McGrath, Billy O'Keefe, Dermot Ryan; Michael Curry, Jason Curry; James Walsh, Billy Hynes, Stephen Curry; Tholom Guiry, Tom O'Connell, Seán Whelan Barrett. Subs: Michael O'Brien for J Curry (47), Alan Dunwoody for Walsh (56), Donie Fitzgerald for Whelan Barrett (58), Mark Cummins for O'Keefe (65), Conor O'Cuirrin for McGrath (72)

Referee: Niall Cullen (Fermanagh)