Waterford - 4-20 Derry 2-4 Derry duly departed the top flight after a mauling from Waterford ithis Division One Group Two National Hurling League relegation play-off at Walsh Park on Saturday.

Three second-half goals from All-Star Eoin Kelly was only the icing on the cake for the home side, who led by 0-13 to 1-1 at half time having played with a strong wind and with Dave Bennett contributing six of their points.

Waterford let their intentions be known from the throw-in as they accumulated five unanswered points in as many minutes.

Derry had to wait 20 minutes for their opening score, a goal from John O'Dwyer, by far their best player, after he collected a long delivery and kicked the ball to the net.

The game as a contest was well and truly over by the early minutes of the second half when Paul O'Brien and Kelly struck for goals.

Kelly was set up for the his second and Waterford's third on the quarter hour by Dan Shanahan and he completed his hat-trick three minutes from time.

A cause of concern for the Waterford camp was the serious injury sustained by wing back Eoin Murphy following an accidental clash in the opening half.

WATERFORD: S Brenner; B Greene, T Feeney, D O'Brien; E Murphy, F Hartley, James Murray; P Fitzgerald, P Queally; D Shanahan (0-2), E Kelly (3-4), D Bennett (0-6); S Walsh, P Flynn (0-2), J Kennedy (0-2). Subs. P O'Brien(1-1) for Murphy; B Phelan (0-1) for Shanahan; N Power for Greene; D Murphy (0-1) for Bennett; C Watt for Queally.

DERRY: K Stevenson; P McVeigh, E McKeever, C McKenna; A McCloskey, D Magill, K Hinphey; R Kennedy, A McCrystal; M Collins (0-2), O Collins (0-1), G Biggs; J O'Dwyer (2-1), D McGrellis, C McKeever. Subs: G Brounton for Hinphey; R Convery for C McKeever.

Referee: J Kelly (Wexford).