Moran delighted to get the job done as Leitrim recover from Wexford loss

Putting the deep disappointment of their loss to Wexford firmly behind them, Leitrim got their Allianz NFL Division 4 promotion push firmly back on track with a comprehensive win over Carlow last Sunday, leaving manager Andy Moran in a very different mood from what they experienced just a week before.

“Last week was really disappointing for us,” reflected the Leitrim manager after the 2-22 to 0-13 victory over Carlow in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada, adding “As I say when you lose a game; it certainly is a longer trip home and it most certainly was. But today was about winning and getting the job done. 

“Obviously with a lot of the players out that we hope to get back within a week or two; which would be a massive boost to us. But today was about getting the job done. We are still in the (promotion) fight after the game,” added Moran who described himself as “delighted”.

Leitrim GAA Supporters bus to Aughrim

Keith Beirne again took the plaudits with a remarkable 1-11 as the Mohill man was named on the GAA.ie Team of the Week for the fourth week in a row, with no player other than the Leitrim star making it two weeks in a row and the Leitrim manager was understandably delighted by Beirne’s performance.

“I think it is phenomenal what he has done in the first four games. Jack (Heslin) was brilliant when we scored (1 – 3 without reply in the first half). He was the main man in that period. So it was really good to get through that (first half) period.”

However, it wasn’t a performance without concerns and Andy agreed that Leitrim opened nervously: “Obviously after losing last week there was going to be a bit of nervousness; I would say the Leitrim supporters were (nervous). It was nice to get through that period in the first 15 minutes of the first half and then we kicked on.”

“When nervousness kicks in, you play safe more than the other way. As soon as we got out of that habit, and I think Jack  drove us through it, it was good. I think we were playing too safe in the first 15 minutes. Once we started expressing ourselves, kicking the ball into the boys; running hard lines, I think we were good.”

The cliche ‘goals win games’ was never truer than last Sunday as Moran termed Keith Beirne’s goal as “massive” while highlighting the return of Aidan Flynn from injury: “Keith's goal coming from a brilliant turnover – it was great to have Aidan Flynn back today – I think it took him maybe 10 to 15 minutes to get himself going.

“But once he got going it was great and it was a great turnover in the middle of the field. It was a brilliant turnover (for the second Leitrim goal) and Jack (Heslin) was free and he went on to get a good strike. The first one came after a lovely flick from Tom Prior; while the second one came after a good pass from Keith and a good finish by Jack Heslin.”

Leitrim fans thrilled as Green & Gold go top of Allianz NFL Division 4 - GALLERY

Leitrim got themselves right back in the Allianz NFL Division 4 promotion race when they handed Carlow a 2-22 to 0-13 hammering in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada in front of delighted Green & Gold fans on Sunday. Observer photographer Willie Donnellan was there to capture some great images of fans enjoying the action .... see who you can spot!

Carlow ended the game with just 12 players on the field but the perfectionism in Moran felt Leitrim had their own issues with indiscipline in the first half: “Our indiscipline was that we gave away too soft frees – I am not to sure that we got many bookings; no red cards, which is a good thing for us.

“It is something that we need to sign up to; we are giving too many frees and we also kicked too many (scoring) chances away last week against Wexford; again we gave away too many frees today. But again when a game is robust I would be happy with the guys sticking at it – no black cards and no red cards – that was a big thing for us.”