The journey is over for the Waterford footballers who bowed out of the All-Ireland Championship after being soundly beaten by Monaghan in this afternoon's Round 2 Qualifier at a sun-drenched Fraher Field.
Monaghan set the tone from the outset and raced into a 0-6 to 0-0 lead before Waterford got their opening scores midway through the half as Kieran Power and Gavin Crotty reduced the deficit to four points.
The visitors struck for the games opening goal as Conor McManus converted a penalty on 21 minutes and added a point soon after before Conor Murray responded with a neat point for Tom McGlinchey's charges.
The Ulster side finished the half in style and rattled in two quick fire goals through Karl O' Connor and Fintan Kelly to give them a comfortable 3-11 to 0-4 advantage at the interval.
The home side started the second half reasonably well, Jason Curry kicked over a couple of pointed frees for Waterford but were hit by another killer blow when Dessie Moan netted after two initials blocks by Michael Curry
Shane Carey netted a fifth goal for Malcahy O' Rourke's charges late on before Stevie Prendergast kicked Waterford's final point.
It finished on a full-time scoreline of Monaghan 5 - 21 Waterford 0 - 9.
Déise selector Emmett Doherty admitted afterwards that it's still been a positive season.
Emmett told WLR Sport getting the elusive Championship win was the main aim at the start.
Deise boss Tom McGlinchey said that the gulf between Division 1 and Division 4 was apparent this afternoon.
