Five points down to Cork entering the final quarter, Tipperary looked a long shot for the National Hurling League play-offs but with the help of 1-2 from substitute Eugene O'Neill, the reigning league and All-Ireland champions made it through to the quarter-final play-offs on their own steam. Cork, their business done in the early round-robin games, go straight through to the semi-finals.

Later Nicky English and his team would have discovered that even if they had been beaten, they would have progressed as Wexford fell by one point to Offaly in Birr. In a day of tight matches, Davey Fitzgerald pulled off some heroic saves as Clare held off Waterford by a single point.

Yesterday's results set up an attractive quarter-final double bill in Semple Stadium next Sunday where Clare will meet Limerick and Tipperary will meet Galway.

As a consequence of yesterday's hurling action, the National Football League Division Two semi-final between Kerry and Meath will take place in Limerick next Sunday.