after being transfer listed by drogheda united at the end of the 2006 season, leech signed for shelbourne in february 2007 on a season long loan. there was considerable angst for leech at the start of his shels career as he was prohibited from playing for shels by fifa along with many other eircom league players due to fifa's two-club ruling. after receiving clearance to play for shelbourne by fifa, he made his shelbourne league debut on 30 march 2007 against kilkenny city at buckley park where he scored on his debut in a 1–1 draw. leech was a regular figure for shelbourne during the 2007 season making 32 league and cup appearances and scoring 12 goals making him shelbourne's top goalscorer for the 2007 season. leech's loan spell at shelbourne ended at the end of the 2007 season. he signed for galway united in december 2007 but his spell at terryland park only lasted 6 months.