Dominant Deise destroy Antrim

All-Ireland SHC Qualifiers Round 2:
Waterford 6-18 Antrim 0-15

Newly-appointed Waterford boss Davy Fitzgerald got his reign off to the best possible start with a predictably easy win over Antrim at Walsh Park on Saturday.

With John Mullane continuing the fine form he showed in the defeat to Clare, the result was never in doubt, though Waterford were only 4-6 to 0-11 up at the break.

Mullane grabbed 2-2 in the first half, while Eoin Kelly was equally impressive as he chipped in with the other two goals of the half.

However, Antrim were kept in the game by a string of Paul Shiels scores, all from placed balls, in the opening period.

But further goals by dual player Gary Hurney and Stephen Molumphy ensured that the Deise will go on to the next round of the qualifiers where they will play Cork or Dublin or the winner of Limerick and Offaly in two weeks.

Surprisingly, Antrim went into an early lead thanks to points from Shiels and Michael Herron, who used the strong breeze to their advantage in the opening minutes.

The Deise struggled from placed balls – Dave Bennett missed a couple of easy chances – and all their opening scores came from play, including a fine Eoin Kelly goal on five minutes.

The breeze was the most important factor in the first half and PJ O’Connell managed to give the underdogs a one-point lead before Waterford’s big guns, John Mullane and Dan Shanahan, caught fire.

Mullane struck for two goals inside the first 24 minutes, Eoin McGrath the provider on this occasion having chipped in with three points in the first half.

The biggest cheer of the day came when Paul Flynn, making his first appearance of the season, was introduced as a blood substitute.

He clipped over a point his first touch to display some of the class that was sorely lacking in the disappointing defeat to the Banner.

With the wind at their backs, Waterford went on to completely dominate the second period, with Molumphy and Hurney adding further goals to their already impressive haul.

Waterford will be pleased with the impressive display, but there will be tougher tests ahead for Davy Fitzgerald and his charges, while Antrim will now face Laois in a relegation play-off in two weeks’ time.

WATERFORD: C Hennessy; E Murphy, K McGrath, D Prendergast; S O’Sullivan, T Browne, J Kennedy; M Walsh, D Bennett (0-1); E Kelly (2-3, 3f), G Hurney (1-0), S Molumphy (1-0); E McGrath (0-5), D Shanahan (0-4), J Mullane (2-2).

Subs: P Flynn (0-1) for Kelly, J Nagle (0-2) for Bennett ’54, B Phelan for Browne, Flynn for Hurney ’59, R Foley for Walsh ’67, T Feeney for Prendergast ’67.

ANTRIM: R McGarry; A Graffin, C Donnelly, J McKeague; C Herron (0-1), K McKeegan, J Campbell; E McCloskey, PJ O’Connell (0-2); S McNaughton (0-1), K Stewart (0-2), B Quinn (0-0); M Herron (0-1), P Richmond (capt), P Shiels (0-7, 0-5f).

Referee: Michael Haverty (Galway).