THE bitter pill of relegation for Waterford was sugar-coated by an eminently encouraging performance of merit that, alas, went frustratingly close to upsetting Galway in a Division One tie of sustained, end-to-end exchanges at Dungarvan yesterday.

Galway manager Mattie Murphy's immediate reaction was one of relief. The final whistle had come to the rescue of his over-worked defenders, and it was hardly surprising to hear him comment: "They have one of the best midfields in the country. Any team would have its work cut out to beat that young team on the evidence of their performance today."

One can only wonder what the eager, if often impetuous young home side would have achieved if their inspirational captain and centre back, Fergal Hartley, had not been forced out with a leg injury after only four minutes.

Hartley's withdrawal was one of three cruel disasters that contrived to crush Waterford's prospects. The second set back saw Joe Cooney get free, after a series of immature defensive errors, to crash home Galway's goal in less than a minute of the resumption.

The third incident came six minutes from time when Waterford's impressive Paul Flynn failed to emulate Cooney in a similar situation. The corner forward got loose behind the Galway cover, but, with Kevin Devine at his mercy, his searing shot went over the bar.

Waterford, on the rampage at the time, were four points down and the Galway midfield and defence were feeling the chill. "That was a crucial miss for us," said Waterford manager Tony Mansfield. "We had regained composure after Joe Cooney's goal. But I'm satisfied with the performance, but disappointed with the result."

Right half forward Peter Queally moved back to deputise for Hartley at centre back and proceeded to play his heart out. Ken McGrath was drafted into the attack and fulfilled expectations with a mature performance way beyond his 18 years. He inspired the move that led to Waterford's goal by full forward Sean Daly three minutes into the second half - a prompt response to Cooney's goal that left only three points between them.

Murphy empathised with the youthful Waterford team: "I think they are better off now than they were last year when they beat us in the quarter-finals."