Waterford will face sterner tests in the forthcoming round of the NHL than that encountered in the opening round at Dungarvan yesterday when they inflicted an 18 points defeat on hapless Derry. The winners led by 2-5 to 0-6 at the interval with the first goal coming inside 30 seconds of the throw-in when Derry full back Conor Murray turned the ball into his own net.

The second came from Seamus Prendergast seven minutes from the break when he first timed the ball to the net after Paul Flynn's effort from a 20 metre free had been saved by the Derry defence.

The unerring Oliver Collins kept Derry in touch for long periods of the first-half but the home side had far more possession. However their anxiety to overplay the ball in front of goal is something they must improve on. Waterford sent over five unanswered points in the third quarter to stretch their lead to 10 points and it took Derry all of 20 minutes to open their second-half account when John O'Dwyer pointed.

Waterford's third goal came eight minutes from the final whistle when Ken McGrath billowed the net from a close range free while the closing stages were only target practice for the home side.

WATERFORD: B Landers; T Feeney, S Cullinane, B Flannery; V O'Shea, S Frampton, J O'Connor; P Queally, T Brown; K McGrath (1-6, 1-2 frees 0-1 65), S Prendergast (1-1), E Kelly (0-1); J Mullane (0-2), P Walsh (0-2), P Flynn (0-2, 0-1 free). Subs: P Prendergast (0-1) for Kelly, T Reid for Seamus Prendergast, J Murray for Flannery, D Bennett (0-2) for Flynn, J Brenner for Brown.

DERRY: K Stevenson; E McKeever, C Murray (1-0 o.g.), M Quinn; B Lynch, M Conway (0-1), B Ward; C McEldowney, S Martin Lockart; G Biggs, D McGreelis, R McCloskey; P Kelly, O Collins (0-5, 0-4 frees), J O'Dwyer (0-2). Subs: D Doherty for McCloskey, F McEldowney for Quinn, R Kennedy for McGreeliss.

Referee: P Dunphy (Kilkenny).