"It's the biggest result we have had to date. Will it count for much next July? Probably not. We are out of 1B which I am delighted for. Particularly for the players - it is an important step in their development."

John Kiely's Limerick came from eight points down at half-time against All-Ireland champions Galway to secure promotion to Division 1A.

"The intensity levels in the second half weren't what they were in the first. We had a poor day at the office and, to be fair to Limerick, they created a lot of space and when the scoring chances came they took them."

Galway's second-half performance wasn't up to scratch, according to Micheal Donoghue.

"They are making good progress. Every day we go out, it's a big test for the inexperienced players but they are doing well. They are being tested. They have to take serious positions on the team and produce the goods."

The newcomers to the Kilkenny set-up are settling in well which is encouraging for Brian Cody and his backroom team.

"We both know what the story is. Today will be 100 miles away from what it will be here in June. It will be a lot faster surface; the game will be a lot quicker. I don't think there will be a puck of a ball in it."

Davy Fitzgerald already has one eye on the Model County's return to Nowlan Park in the summer.

"Division 1A is a roller-coaster, but it's a really good early-season competition for us all. But from now on, I think the competition really starts. Every game we play is knockout and we want to progress as far as we can."

A three-point win over Cork sees Michael Ryan and Tipperary advance to the business end of the league.

"I'm happy enough with how we finished out the game. The lads kept hurling and we could have rescued it in the end. And now we have another game to keep working on things."

John Meyler's Rebel County side's Division 1A status will be on the line when they face Waterford.

"It's probably our last game as a management and players at Walsh Park so it's good to finally get a win after two years."

Derek McGrath and the Deise secured a long overdue success at Walsh Park at Clare's expense.

"Today was an important game for us. We really needed to get a big performance. We got a massive amount of work out of the team today, and I think we really built from the performance the last day (against Galway)."

Dublin are showing signs of improvement under Pat Gilroy.

"We set up a certain way and it didn't work. By the time we changed it they had gone too far ahead. I have to take the blame for that."

Laois boss Eamonn Kelly held his hands up following their 15-point loss to the metropolitans.

"Today was all about having a good attitude. We knew Offaly were making a lot of changes, we made a lot of changes, but we were quite impressed with the way our players adapted with their mindset and the way they play the game."

Neal Peden says Antrim will take great encouragement from their performance against the Faithful County ahead of their relegation play-off with Laois.

"We are after getting a look at a few players and we are preparing for a quarter-final next weekend. We would have liked to have won, but there is a bigger picture."

Kevin Martin's Offaly charges will face Kilkenny in the last eight next weekend.

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