Déise show Antrim how it's done

Waterford 3-21 Antrim 1-10

Antrim's first NHL Division One relegation section road trip ended in a 1-10 to 3-21 defeat this afternoon as Waterford's forward power proved too much for visitors at Fraher Field.

The Saffrons were minus late withdrawal Jim Connolly, but that mattered little in the end as Dinny Cahill's men were outclassed by the home side.

Michael Herron was their stand-out player. The St Mary's, Belfast attacker saw his 19th-minute free bobble to the Waterford net from 20 metres out as the visitors briefly led.

Herron had hit two early points, levelling the sides at 0-05 apiece before his opening goal.

Waterford nevertheless, wasted little time in replying.

Forty seconds later, a swift John Mullane run and handpass set up Seamus Prendergast for a slick Déise goal.

Six unanswered points flowed out of the Waterford attack. Paul Flynn notched three frees and he almost goaled on 31 minutes - being denied by a brilliant Damien Quinn save.

Unfortunately for the Antrim stopper, Eoin McGrath was on hand to bat home the rebound.

Herron clipped over a late free to see Antrim 1-06 to 2-11 in arrears at the break.

The Ulstermen never got going in the second period. Waterford tagged on nine more points by the 56th-minute with Flynn, Dan Shanahan, who started on the forty, and Dave Bennett on target.

Mullane then rounded out Waterford's second win in the space of a week with an injury-time goal.