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| Photo from ESPNcricinfo.com |
Left-hander Leach made a 145 second-wicket stand with Jason Roy, with the Surrey Test debutant making a quickfire 72.
These two looked to have atoned for England's dismal first innings total, before Leach failed to become the first English nightwatchman to make a century falling eight short of a ton, and his dismissal was part collapses of 4-23 and 7-77.
Sam Curran went on the offensive when he went to the crease at 248-8, hitting a thrilling 37 from 21 balls, and Stuart Broad joined Olly Stone at the crease as England ended the day on 303-9 - a lead of 181 - when rain and a storm threat ended the day's play.
Leach's comfort at the crease put England's recognised batsmen to shame, and without him the match may already be lost.
Ireland toiled in the 37°C during Leach and Roy's partnership, avoiding being batted out of the game with tenacious bowling despite catches being dropped.
In his first home Test, Leach batted at number 11 in the first innings, before surviving one over at the end of the first day as a nightwatchman.
Averaging just over four in first class matches this summer with a best score of nine, he will have been shaken when hit on the head by a bouncer last summer.
However he looked much more assured than his opening partner Rory Burns, who was caught off Boyd Rankin behind for just six.
Bespectacled, a sufferer of Crohn's disease, Leach had some good fortune at the crease, being dropped on 64 at leg slip and 72 by wicketkeeper Gary Wilson both off Rankin's bowling.
Roy overcame a skittish start to recapture some of his World Cup form, alongside Leach who played cuts and drives like the best in the business.
It was Roy who began the collapse, bowled playing a loose drive at Stuart Thompson, and Leach was dropped by Mark Adair off Tim Murtagh before the same fielder at second slip held on as the Somerset man left the field to a rousing ovation.
After a repeat of Wednesday's shodding batting performance and some brilliant fielding, England failed to make the most of the brilliant platform Leach had laid.
Joe Denly fell victim when Joe Root sent him back too late and suffered a run out, while Root and Chris Woakes were caught behind off Adair after loose drives.
Jonny Bairstow completed his pair when he was trapped lbw by Adair, while Moeen Ali edged behind off Rankin.
Curran would not be rolled over like his teammates though, hitting sixes over fine leg and long-off.
After he was caught at deep square leg off Thompson, Stone joined Broad at the crease, the latter of whom will resume the day on 21 with one wicket remaining.
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