Tipperary topped a competitive Division 1A table with three wins from five outings while Dublin secured promotion with a 1B final victory over Limerick.

Anthony Daly's side turned the tables on the Shannonsiders with a narrow 1-16 to 1-15 win in Thurles.

Dublin are back where they want to be in league terms after being demoted 12 months ago and that achievement in itself will have lifted a lot of the pressure off their shoulders.

Paul Ryan accounted for 1-8 of their total - all from frees - a fortnight ago and manager Daly will have been pleased with the manner in which they came from behind to book a return to the top flight.

They trailed by three points - 1-10 to 1-13 - with 20 minutes to play and outscored their opponents by six points to two in the time that remained.

The 2011 Division 1 winners return to the home of hurling this weekend but they face a considerable step up in terms of opposition in the form of the Premier County.

Eamon O'Shea's team secured top spot on score difference from Kilkenny with a 3-19 to 1-4 win over neighbours Clare in the final round.

It has been quite a turnaround from their 12-point opening round defeat at the hands of Cork.

Doubts surround the availability of Eoin Kelly, John O'Dwyer, John O'Brien and Brian O'Meara but better news concerns two time All-Star nominee Gearoid Ryan who has rejoined the squad after long-running injury problems.

A final date against either Galway or Kilkenny would greatly help fine tune Tipp's preparations for their Munster SHC showdown with either Clare or Waterford on June 23 while Dublin might well have to be satisfied with the fact that they have already achieved their primary objective.

Verdict: Tipperary

Tipperary - B Cummins; P Stapleton, P Maher, M Cahil; B Maher, C O'Mahon, D Maher; N McGrath, S McGrath; S Callanan, L Corbett, P Maher; S Bourke, P Bourke, J Forde.

Dublin - Dublin: Alan Nolan, Peter Kelly, Paul Schutte, Ruari Treanor, Michael Carton, Liam Rushe, Shane Durkin, Joey Boland, Simon Lambert, Conal Keaney, John McCaffrey, Danny Sutcliffe, Conor McCormack, David O'Callaghan, David Treacy.

Odds: Tipperary 1/4, Draw 11/1, Dublin 7/2

Match Details: Semple Stadium, Thurles, 2pm Sunday 21 April Tweet

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