after making a name for himself as an up-and-coming talent at youth level and as part of the fais international squad, leech began his senior footballing career after being snapped up by ucd in 2003 for a deferred scholarship while he was still at school. he played on numerous occasions for the students' under 21 panel and broke into the ucd first team making limited appearances. leech scored his only ucd goal against waterford united at belfield park on 22 september 2003 aged just 17.