REACTION: Cahill concerned by Connolly injury after victory in Belfast

The result was all that mattered coming away from Belfast last Saturday for the Tipperary senior hurlers, with the Galway and Limerick result turning out to be a valuable one for the Premier.

"We came up to win the match and that was our primary objective," said Tipperary manager Liam Cahill after the game which was played in awful spring conditions in Corrigan Park.

"The players didn't know but someone told me just at the throw-in about the draw in Pearse Stadium.

“It's just as well (Galway and Limerick drew) as we would have needed to get up to the 30-point mark,” he grinned.

He continued, "I'm happy to a certain extent, but lots to work on, and next weekend will be a big test.

"Conditions were poor but in fairness to Corrigan Park, the pitch was in great condition despite all the rain, I'm delighted to qualify for the last four and see what will happen next weekend."

With results in Division 1A unfolding to script, Tipperary clinched a place in the last four of the league and will face up to a team in form in the shape of Brian Lohan’s Clare charges who are arguably the in-form team in the country right now and Cahill is happy that he will get his players at least one more game in preparation before championship against a very strong opposition in the Banner.

“Clare are absolutely hopping in the league at the moment and they obviously have their eye on the first round of the championship as well, and that’ll be a good encounter.

“It will give us all a good idea of where we’re at in our preparation."

The only sour note to come from an uneventful game in Corrigan Park was the injury sustained by Eoghan Connolly who had to be withdrawn prematurely after falling awkwardly on his arm, and Cahill indicated that he was unsure exactly what the issue is with the Cashel King Cormacs man.

“His elbow is the problem. It got stuck in the ground when he was running through.,” he described.

“I don’t think there’s anything broken but we don’t know the damage yet.

“But I’d say with the initial soreness, it could be ligament damage around that area but we’ll see how he is tomorrow and Monday,” he added.

The status of Cathal Barrett’s return from injury, along with Kilsheelan Kilcash man Mark Kehoe was put to Cahill after the game, and the Ballingarry man didn’t deal in absolutes when addressing the question.

“Cathal is just finding it very hard to get himself right. We just have to wait and see how it goes, but thankfully we have a lot of options at the moment.

“Mark Kehoe is making progress as well. He’s two and a half or three weeks into his rehab and we’d be hopeful to see him come the end of this league and we’ll definitely have him back for the championship.”