Derek McGrath was accentuating the positives after defeat to Cork cost Waterford their Allianz Hurling League Division 1A status.

"We came to try to build on the performances against Cork and Clare and I think we actually did that without getting a good result," the Deise manager told the Irish Independent after the relegation playoff in Pairc Ui Rinn.

"We're very happy with lots of our play; to be relegated isn't nice so we're disappointed over that, but we weren't even approaching it in a manner where we mentioned relegation or even staying up. We were just trying to build towards a good performance and I think we got that."

McGrath feels playing in Division 1B next year may not be a bad thing for last year's All-Ireland runners-up.

"I think there'll be a few step away and in terms of the integration into the panel of DJ Foran, Patrick (Curran) and those guys that were centre-stage today and prolonged starting berths in the team, 1B is probably more applicable.

"That's not to say we're happy to be going down there, you have to acknowledge the county board, for the bigger games the gates are good, so it's a fine balance," he added.

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