Waterford 3-18 Down 0-19: The home side had to work hard for their expected third victory in Division One A of the NHL relegation section at Dungarvan on Saturday.

It took second-half goals from Paul Foley, Eoin Kelly and Eoin McGrath for the Munster side to see off the challenge of their visitors. The sides were level on three occasions in the opening 10 minutes before four points from Waterford captain Kelly saw the home side lead by double scores 0-8 to 0-4 with 20 minutes played and they went on to lead by 0-15 to 0-5 at half-time having played with the wind.

The opening goal came nine minutes into the second half when Foley reacted fastest to send the ball to the net after a powerful shot from Kelly had been saved by Richard Murray in the Down goal.

Kelly himself was the scorer of goal number two in the 48th minute when a 40-metre free went all the way to the net. Down to their credit battled on and four points from Martin Coulter along with one apiece from Eoin Clarke and Gerard Adair saw them trail by 10 points with as many minutes remaining. Corner forward Eoin McGrath had Waterford's third goal eight minutes from the finish, but it was to be their last score of the game.

Down finished the stronger and rifled over five unanswered points in the closing minutes.

WATERFORD: I O'Regan; D Prendergast, J O'Leary, D Coffey; T Browne (0-1), L Lawlor, E Rockett; A Maloney (0-1), D Bennett; J Mullane (0-3), D Shanahan (0-1), E Kelly (1-7, one free); P O'Brien (0-2), P Foley (1-2), E McGrath (1-1). Sub: E Murphy for Browne (47 mins).

DOWN: R Murray; L Clarke, S Murray, P Hughes; G Clarke, G Savage, A Bell; A Savage, P Monan; E Clarke (0-1), P Braniff (0-4), B McGourty; M Coulter (0-9, 4 frees), D Johnson (0-3), S Clarke (0-1). Subs: G Adair (0-1) for Monan; J McCusker for E Clarke (all 54 mins); C Coulter for Bell (59 mins); P Smith for S Clarke (67 mins).

Referee: J Ryan (Tipperary).