Reaching the knock-out stages of the leagues was a prime target for Cork, according to experienced defender Shane O'Neill, as the extra games will help them fine-tune their preparations for the Munster SHC.

Jimmy Barry-Murphy's charges have bounced back from their opening round defeat to Kilkenny with three wins on the trot and O'Neill says their league run is a massive boost ahead of their championship clash with Waterford.

"Given where we were the first night, that loss to Kilkenny, coming back with three wins on the spin keeps us away from the relegation zone and puts us on course for another game in the quarter-final," he remarked to The Examiner.

"That's a massive boost for us, because it definitely helps you to have those later games when you're looking at the championship.

"In our case we're playing Waterford in the Munster semi-final this year and you could have a long wait for that game if the league went badly.

"Last year we had a quarter-final against them and a replay, so you had two full championship games played before taking on Clare in the semi-final, which was obviously an advantage.

"Because of that it was always a target for us, to make the knock-out stages of the league so that we'd have games as late as possible before the championship."

The Rebels will renew acquaintances with Tipperary at Pairc Ui Rinn tomorrow in a repeat of last year's All-Ireland semi-final which the Premier County won comfortably.

"It's a league game, not a Munster final, obviously there's a lot at stake in terms of what you can get out of it for the league, but I wouldn't overstate it given what happened last year in the championship.

"The (All-Ireland) semi-final last year was a disappointment for us all, individually and as a team. We'd be conscious we left the supporters down, it was such a big occasion and there was so much expectation after 2013.

"But that said I wouldn't see it having a huge impact on tomorrow. That's a game on its own merits."

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