The hand injury sustained by Tipperary senior hurling captain Shane McGrath against Cork last Saturday night is not as serious as first feared.

McGrath suffered a blow to his left hand in the closing stages of the heavy defeat against Cork and Tipperary had to finish the game with 14 men as five substitutes had already been used.

There were immediate fears that McGrath had broken his hand and that diagnosis would have left the Ballinahinch clubman facing a minimum of six weeks on the sidelines.

But he has been encouraged by the results of scans over the weekend. X-rays have confirmed no broken bones but a second opinion is being sought as a precaution.

McGrath (28) had four stitches inserted in a wound in the back of his hand but confirmation that there is no bone break will have come as a huge relief.

Owen Mulligan has returned to training with the Tyrone squad.

The three-time All-Ireland winner played in an in-house training match last Thursday night, less than two weeks after captaining Cookstown to the All-Ireland intermediate club title.

Mulligan was originally left out of Mickey Harte’s squad due to his club commitments, but could be back in the squad in time for Sunday’s league clash against Donegal.

Sean Cavanagh revealed: “We had an in-house match and Owen was up playing a bit there. A number of players were brought in that weren’t part of the original panel and I’m not sure whether it’s going to be a permanent fixture or not.”

Pat Gilroy believes that Bernard Brogan is back to best and has predicted he will torment defences this year.

The Dublin forward kicked 0-20, including six points from play, in Leinster’s two interprovincial games against Connacht and Ulster in the last two weeks.

Having already starred in Dublin’s league wins over Cork and Kerry, the signs are there that Brogan is shaping up for a good season with Dublin.

“Yeah, he’s obviously back to himself, which is great to see,” said Gilroy, who was in charge of the Leinster team which lost to Ulster in Sunday’s interpro final at Croke Park. “He was carrying a lot of little niggles last year but he has got rid of them and he is in great form, so hopefully that will bode well for Dublin.”