Coming from behind at the interval when they had a minimum deficit, Leitrim totally overwhelmed visitors Waterford in the second half half to run out convincing winners in their Allianz Football League Division 4 clash in Carrick-on-Shannon.
Aided by the breeze Waterford drew first blood when Conor Murray fisted over a second-minute point. Leitrim responded well and grabbed the lead over the next six minutes with Keith Beirne putting over two frees and adding a point from play.
Waterford began to find their feet after Michael Curry whipped over a 16th minute point. But Leitrim still held the upper-hand over the next four minutes thanks to another Beirne free conversion and an Aiden Flynn palmed over point.
Following this score the Waterford men lifted their game for the 13 minutes and turned the tables completely on the home side while also grabbing a three point's advantage in the exchanges. In this period Brian Lynch shot four points for The Déise with one coming from a placed ball while Conor Murray and Shane Whelan-Barrett chipped in with a point apiece.
However Leitrim staged a late first half rally to reduce Waterford's advantage to the minimum at the interval - 0-08 to 0-07 - after Darragh Rooney shot two points on the trot.
After the restart Leitrim took full advantage of the breeze and levelled matters within seconds of the throw-in with Darragh Rooney adding his third white flag in succession. Within the space of two more minutes Leitrim were back in front, with Keith Beirne splitting the Waterford uprights.
From this point on the Waterford challenge began to fade and the hosts regained complete command by the 43rd minute, going five points clear. In this period Keith Beirne converted a Leitrim '45' and pointed two frees while Pearce Dolan also added a point.
The visitors stemmed the Leitrim tide a little when Dermot Ryan shot over a well taken 41st minute point. But Leitrim surged once more and extended their lead by 2-15 to 0-09 margin during the next 18 minutes.
In this spell, 1-01 from Jack Heslin as well as another goal by sub Tom Prior plus a Keith Beirne point, put Leitrim well on the way to gaining the points.
Beirne put the seal on the hosts' victory with a goal at the death.
Leitrim: Darren Maxwell; Padddy Maguire, Mark Diffley, Conor Reynolds; Conor Farrell, Donal Casey, Riordan O'Rourke; Pearce Dolan (0-01), Donal Wrynn; Darragh Rooney (0-03) each, Jack Heslin, (1-01) Aidan Flynn (0-01) ; Evan Sweeney, Keith Beirne (1-11, 6f, '45'), Jordan Reynolds.
Subs: Tom Prior (1-00) for O'Rourke (HT); Paul Kenaey (0-02) for Flynn (52); Mark Plunkett for Sweeney (60); James Rooney for D. Rooney (62); Tom Quinn for Casey (66).
Waterford: Aaron Beresford; Liam Fennel, Barry O'Brien, Darragh Ó'Cathasaigh; Darragh Corcoran, Brian Looby, Jordan O'Sullivan; Caoimhin Maguire, Brian Lynch (0 -4f); Dermot Ryan (0-01), Eoghan McGrath-Butler, Michael Curry (0-02); Conor Murray 0-03), Shane Whelan-Barrett (0-01), Michael Kiely.
Subs: Billy Hynes for Maguire (HT); Niall McSweeney for McGrath Butler (41); Conor O'Cuirin for O'Brien (43); Donal Fitzgerald for Whelan-Barrett (57).
Referee: Enda McFeely (Donegal)
