All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers Round 1A

LEITRIM 0-12 WATERFORD 0-8

By Declan Rooney at Páirc Seán MacDiarmada

A strong first half performance from Leitrim saw them overcome Waterford in Round 1A of the All Ireland football Qualifiers at Páirc Seán MacDiarmada in Carrick-On-Shannon.

Ronan Kennedy was the star for Leitrim and his four first half points contributed to a 0-7 to 0-2 half time lead. A late revival from Waterford late on made it a nervy finish for Shane Ward's side but the hosts held on to keep their All Ireland campaign alive.

Leitrim started strongly with Emlyn Mulligan and Kennedy raising white flags to give them a 0-2 to 0-0 lead with five minutes played. Waterford, who were playing into the wind in the first half, opened their account through wing-forward Gavin Crotty in the seventh minute.

Ciarán Gilheaney, a late inclusion to the Leitrim team, split the posts in the eight minute before Waterford midfielder Patrick Hurney pointed a free in response. Hurney's free turned out to be the visitors' last score of the half as they shot seven wides in the opening half. Leitrim, with Kennedy in great form, kept the scoreboard ticking over.

Kennedy pointed a free and Mulligan copied the act a minute later to put them 0-5 to 0-2 up after 21 minutes. Waterford had goalkeeper Shane Enright to thank on 29 minutes as he denied Dónal Wrynn's goalbound effort with a smart save.

The Connacht side kicked a further two point before the break with Kennedy scoring his third and fourth points of the opening period to give them a 0-7 to 0-2 lead at the interval. And Leitrim began the second half with another brace of scores from Kennedy to give them a 0-9 to 0-2 advantage.

Waterford substitute Shaun Corcoran pulled one back for the visitors before Mulligan and Kennedy kicked a free each to make it 0-11 to 0-3 with just over twenty minutes to go. Donal Wrynn's point in the 56th minute was Leitrim's last score of the game as Waterford besieged the Leitrim goal.

Two points from play from Liam Lawlor and two frees from the impressive Mark Ferncombe made it a nervous ending but the revival came too late as Leitrim held on for a deserved victory.

**Scorers for Leitrim: **R Kennedy 0-7 (2f, 1 '45), E Mulligan 0-3 (2f), C Gilheaney 0-1, D Wrynn 0-1

**Scorers for Waterford: **M Ferncombe 0-3 (3f), L Lawlor 0-2, G Crotty 0-1, P Hurney 0-1 (f), S Corcoran 0-1

Leitrim: B Flynn; K McHugh, R Gallagher, P Maguire; S McWeeney, G Reynolds (c), J Rooney; P McGowan, S Moran; T Mulvey, E Mulligan, R Kennedy; C Gilheaney, D Wrynn, A Croal. **Subs: **B Prior for Rooney (h-t), N O’Donnell for Mulvey (68), C Gaffney for Croal (68), R O’Rourke for Gilheaney (71).

Waterford: S Enright; M O’Gorman, T O’Gorman, T Ó hUallacháin; S Prendergast, J McGrath, B Looby; R Ó Ceallaigh, T Prendergast (c); G Crotty, P Hurney, M O’Halloran; J Veale, L Lawlor, L Ó Corraoin. **Subs: **C Murray for O Ceallaigh (h-t), F O Cuirrin for Hurney (h-t), S Corcoran for O Corraoin (h-t), M Ferncombe for Veale (43 BC), M Curry for O’Halloran (51), J O’Mahony for Looby (68-70 temp).

**Referee: **Noel Mooney (Cavan)