Tailteann Cup: Leitrim overcome Waterford

Tailteann Cup Group One

Leitrim 0-17 Waterford 0-12

By PJ Leddy at Ballinamore

Leitrim who just had a one point interval advantage upped their game in the second half to earn a hard fought for win over a battling Waterford outfit who ended the game with 14 players at Ballinamore following Liam Fennell's 67th minute second yellow offence.

Leitrim got off to an impressive start when they grabbed an early lead in the opening three minutes with Ryan O'Rourke, Darragh Rooney and Tom Prior splitting the Waterford posts. After Billy O'Keefe got Waterford's account opened with a 4th minute point the scene was set for a nip and tuck encounter up to break.

An eighth minute Jason Curry Waterford free conversion cut Leitrim's lead to the minimum. Waterford goalkeeper Aaron Beresford denied a clear cut Darragh Rooney Leitrim goal chance two minutes later.

Leitrim extended their advantage to a three point's margin by the 16th minute after Rooney and Ryan O' Rourke shot over. But Waterford stayed right in contention when Tom O'Connell and Stephen Curry answered with a point apiece during the next two minutes.

Leitrim responded to double their lead by the 28 minute mark with two Ryan O'Rourke points and one from Pearce Dolan. But Waterford reduced the deficit with Leitrim to the minimum again at half-time with points hit over Tholom Curry, Liam Fennel and Stephen Guiry.

Before the interval Leitrim's Darragh Rooney and Waterford's Stephen Curry traded points at opposite ends to leave the home-side with a 0-9 to 0-8 lead. After the restart Waterford goalkeeper Aaron Beresford pulled off a top drawer save when he deflected a Barry McNulty's point blank 37th minute goal bound effort out for a '45.'

Following that Leitrim surged to extend their advantage to six points in the next 14 minutes with goalkeeper Niall O'Donnell putting over two '45's', one of which resulted from Beresford's fine save, while Ryan O'Rourke, Aidan Flynn and McNulty chipped in with a point each.

Meanwhile Waterford didn't get their second half account opened until Tom O'Connell tapped over a 58th minute free. Two minutes later Leitrim's Aidan Flynn answered with a well hit point for the home side.

In the remaining minutes of the action Waterford rallied to outscore Leitrim by 0-3 to 0-1 after Alan Dunwoody, Donie Fitzgerald (free) and Tom O'Connell (free) shot over in turn while Nevin O'Donnell answered with a converted a free for the home-side in this period. Following that Leitrim held out to win the game by a five point's margin.

Scorers for Leitrim: Ryan O'Rourke 0-5, Nevin O'Donnell 0-3 ( 2 '45's, 1f), Aidan Flynn, Darragh Rooney and Barry McNulty 0-2 each, Tom Prior, Pearce Dolan and Riordan O' Rourke 0-1 each.

Scorers for Waterford: Tom O' Connell 0-3 (2fs), Tholom Guiry (1 45), Alan Dunwoody and Stephen Curry 0-2 each, Michael Curry, Liam Fennell and Donnie Fitzgerald (f) 0-1 each.

Leitrim: 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 and Evan Sweeney for A Reynolds and Dolan (inj) (HT); Conor Reynolds for McHugh (53); Shane Quinn for Oberwan (66).

Waterford: Aaron Beresford; Ross Browne, Caoimhín Walsh, Liam Fennell; Robbie McGrath, Billy O'Keefe, Dermot Ryan; Michael Curry, Jason Curry; James Walsh, Billy Hayes, John Kinsella; Tholom Guiry, Tom O'Connell, Seán Whelan-Barrett.

Subs: Michael O'Brien for J Curry (47); Alan Dunwoody for Walsh (56); Donie Fitzgerald for S Curry (58); Mark Cummins for O'Keefe (65); Conor O'Cuirrin for McGrath (70+2)

Referee: Niall Cullen (Fermanagh).