WATERFORD hurlers, ousted from the championship a week ago, earned some measure of compensation by clinching promotion to the first division at Walsh Park yesterday. But they made hard work of beating Antrim, collapsing alarmingly in the second half after looking set for an easy victory.

The winners were out of the traps like lightning and Billy O'Sullivan had the ball in the Antrim net within 30 seconds. Allistair Elliot replied immediately with a point for the visitors, but a Stephen Frampton goal after two minutes followed by three quick Paul Flynn points put Waterford 2-3 to 0-1 ahead after only five minutes.

It appeared then that a landslide was on the cards, but the contest levelled out subsequently and loose defensive play at both ends allowed Flynn and Ken McGrath through for further Waterford goals and Aidan Delargy and Gregory O'Kane to reply in kind for Antrim. That left Waterford leading by double scores, 4-8 to 2-4, at the interval.

When Flynn tacked on two Waterford points early in the second half the home attendance sat back anticipating an avalanche, but, assisted by the wind, Antrim had other ideas and they showed far more purpose for the remainder of the game.

Waterford's play became increasingly ragged and mistake ridden and they shot a succession of bad wides.

A John Carson goal for Antrim from a penalty after 43 minutes and two points apiece from Gregory O'Kane and Conor McCambridge left just five points beside the sides with as many minutes remaining.

Waterford wasted further scoring chances in the closing minutes, but Antrim failed to close the gap further until Carson again shot to the net from a free in injury time.