Crossword Genius

From right and left, cheers popular hit (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

attain

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'hit' is the definition.
(I know that hit can be written as attain)

'from right and left cheers popular' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'from' could be 'in' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'in' is found within the answer.
'cheers' could be 'ta' (both can informally mean thank you) and 'ta' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'at' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for attain that I've seen before include "Reach (a specified age)" , "Reach (age, size etc.)" , "Reach a goal" , "Reach or achieve" , "Succeed in reaching, achieve" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times and The Sun.
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