All-Ireland hurling qualifiers: Waterford 6-18 Antrim 0-15; Galway 1-26 Laois 0-09: Davy Fitzgerald's tenure as Waterford manager got off to an emphatic start with his side demolishing Antrim in the All-Ireland hurling qualifier in Walsh Park, while Galway beat Laois by a similar margin at Pearse Stadium.
Antrim won the toss and elected to play with strong wind and showed no sign of a hangover from their heavy defeat to Galway earl on.
They led 0-5 to 1-1 after 12 minutes but that was as good as it was going to get for The Saffrons as Waterford roared into the game and looked as if they could get goals at will.
Outstanding, Eoin Kelly got Waterford's first major in the sixth minute after great work by Eoin McGrath and the latter played a major part in further goals by John Mullane (18th minute) and Kelly again in the 32nd minute.
Mullane, who looked very sharp again, got his second and Waterford's third goal after big centre forward Gary Hurney won a short Antrim puck out.
The biggest cheer of the first half came when former All Star, Paul Flynn, who has been out of hurling for nearly a year, came on as a blood sub for Kelly and managed to pop over a trade mark point during his three minute cameo.
Waterford went in at the break 4-6 to 0-10 in front and it was no more than they deserved as they were winning most of the exchanges around the park. The only negative for the Deise was some very wayward free taking by both Dave Bennett and Kelly, who managed five wides from placed balls.
The second half was no contest as Waterford tacked on a couple of points within a minute of the restart.
Paul Shiels and Karl Stewart tried to keep Antrim in touch but Waterford raced into a 4-14 to 0-12 lead before Stephen Molumphy brilliantly finished a delightful Waterford move for their fifth goal in the 50th minute.
Gary Hurney added his side's sixth ten minutes later as many of the big home attendance headed for the exit gates.
Waterford, in their first outing under Fitzgerald, will learn little from this game as Antrim were just not up to scratch.
Fitzgerald said afterwards he was very happy with the work rate of his players but stressed that they face a massive test next time out.
For Antrim and 'Sambo' McNaughton it was another humiliating experience and one wonders what good this will do for hurling in Antrim.
Laois also had a new man in charge but Niall Rigney's debut was at the other end of the scale to Fitzgerald's.
Joe Canning scored 0-9 for the Tribesmen, while midfielder Adrian Cullinane got the goal in the 31st minute and claimed another two points.
The game was over by half-time with the scores at 1-14 to 0-06 but Galway were almost as ruthless after the break and tagged on another 12 to Laois's three.
Scorers: Waterford: E Kelly 2-3, J Mullane 2-2, E McGrath 0-5, D Shanahan 0-4, S Molumphy 1-0, G Hurney 1-0, J Nagle 0-2, P Flynn and D Bennett 0-1 each. Antrim: P Shiels 0-7, PJ O'Connell, K Stewart 0-2 each, M Herron, C Herron, B Quinn, S McNaughton 0-1 each.
Waterford: C Hennessy; E Murphy, K McGrath, D Prendergast; S O'Sullivan, T Browne, J Kennedy; M Walsh, D Bennett; D Shanahan, G Hurney, S Molumphy; E McGrath, E Kelly, J Mullane. Subs: P Flynn for G Hurney, J Nagle for Bennett, R Foley for 8 and T Feeney for Prendergast.
Antrim: R McGarry; A Griffin, C Donnelly, J McKeague; C Herron, K McKeegan, J Campbell; PJ O'Connell, E McCloskey; M Herron, K Stewart, B Quinn; S McNaughton, R Richmond, P Shiels.