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2024 Allianz Football League Division 4 – Leitrim 2-17 Waterford 1-5

January 28 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Leitrim defeated Waterford by 2-17 to 1-5 in Round 1 of the 2024 Allianz Football League Division 4 on Sunday January 28th at Fraher Field Dungarvan.

Perfect 10 Rooney makes wasteful Waterford pay

Allianz FL Division 4: Leitrim 2-17 Waterford 1-5

Report by Tomas McCarthy for the Irish Examiner newspaper

No Keith Beirne, no problem for Andy Moran’s Leitrim as Darragh Rooney shot ten points (five frees and five from play) in the driving wind and rain at Dungarvan.

Beirne tormented Waterford in the two previous league encounters but it was Rooney’s turn on this occasion.

“He’s an excellent player,” Moran remarked afterwards. “A couple of years ago we were down here and you were asking about somebody else. Darragh came in there, filling those shoes, and did very well. You need to have a focal point and Darragh was that for us today.”

Second-half goals from Evan Sweeney and Riordan O’Rourke sealed a comprehensive win for the promotion hopefuls, their first victory since March 19, 2023. “We didn’t mention it all week but we haven’t won a game since we lost to Sligo in the last game of the league last year. It was very important for us to win that game.”

Beirne wasn’t named on the Leitrim panel for the trip to Fraher Field.

“He’s working very hard away from it to try and get back in,” Moran explained. “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. If he does, it would be great. What a player and we would love to have him back in at some stage.”

Waterford boss Paul Shankey was disappointed with four missed goal opportunities including a late penalty from Jason Curry. “You have to take your chances. If you don’t take your chances at this level, you get punished. We left a lot behind. Very happy with the effort, very happy with what has gone on in the last couple of weeks but we have to be a little more clinical.”

The Déise were down ten starters from their last Tailteann Cup match of 2023 against Tipperary. Shankey gave league debuts to Robbie McGrath, Michael O’Brien and Willie Beresford.

Wind assisted Leitrim led 0-7 to 0-2 at the break. Darragh Rooney delivered four points (three frees). Defender Jamie McGreal got the score of the half off the outside of his right boot.

Michael Curry kicked Waterford’s first point on 17 minutes after a pinpoint pass from Willie Beresford. Midfield partner Jack Keane blasted a goal chance over the bar.

Rooney added four more to his tally within four minutes of the restart (two from play and two from frees) as Leitrim cracked the Waterford kickout. Barry McNulty then punched the ball off the crossbar. On 50 minutes, Rooney supplied substitute Evan Sweeney who flicked to the net (1-12 to 0-3).

Waterford replied two minutes later as Alan Dunwoody crossed for Dermot Ryan to fist home. Ryan rifled over 1-2 in the second half.

Déise substitute Tom O’Connell won a penalty eight minutes from time but Nevin O’Donnell denied Jason Curry from the spot. Five minutes into injury time, Riordan O’Rourke reacted quickest when a Paul Keaney free dropped short.

Scorers for Leitrim: D Rooney (0-10, 5 frees); R O’Rourke (1-1); E Sweeney (1-0); S Quinn (0-2); J McGreal, J Foley, A Flynn, P Dolan (0-1 each).

Scorers for Waterford: D Ryan (1-2), M Curry, J Keane, A Dunwoody (f) (0-1 each).

LEITRIM: N O’Donnell; C Reynolds, D Casey, A Flynn; J McGreal, M Diffley, J Foley; J Gilheaney, P Dolan; S Quinn, B McNulty, Ryan O’Rourke; Riordan O’Rourke, D Rooney, D Wrynn.
Subs: E Sweeney for Gilheaney (39), J Rooney for Flynn (Blood, 50-58), C McHugh for McGreal (55), J Rooney for Wrynn (64), P Keaney for Ryan O’Rourke (67), M Plunkett for D Rooney (70).

WATERFORD: A Beresford; R Browne, L Fennell, C McCarthy; R McGrath, C Ó Cuirrín, D Ryan; J Keane, M Curry; M O’Brien, S Whelan Barrett, J Curry; S Curry, W Beresford, N McSweeney.
Subs: B O’Keeffe for McSweeney (25), A Dunwoody for O’Brien (32), B Hynes for Keane (43), C Mac Craith for McGrath (47), T O’Connell for W Beresford (57).

Referee: J Hayes (Limerick)

Match Preview

Team News

WATERFORD (AFL v Leitrim): A Beresford; R Browne, L Fennell, C McCarthy; R McGrath, C Curran, D Ryan; J Keane, M Curry; J Curry, S Whelan Barrett, M O’Brien; S Curry, W Beresford, N McSweeney.
Subs: P Hunt, B O’Keeffe, B Hynes, D Fitzgerald, A Dunwoody, C MacCraith, C Maguire, J Sheehan, T O’Connell, J O’Connell, S Cullinane.

Details

Date:
January 28
Time:
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Venue

Fraher Field Dungarvan

GAA Units

Clare GAA
Cork GAA
Kerry GAA
Limerick GAA
Tipperary GAA
Waterford GAA
US GAA