Few counties have as little time for romance as Kilkenny and their county champions duly put paid to the fairytale run of St Mullins in this AIB Leinster senior club hurling decider in Portlaoise on Sunday afternoon.

Seamus Murphy reckons St Mullins colleagues Marty Kavanagh and James Doyle would “walk onto every club in Kilkenny”.

Growing up, the only county games Marty Kavanagh went to were Kilkenny games and he was typically there for one reason, to watch Henry Shefflin.

The jubilant St Mullins hurlers gathered in midfield and belted out a lusty version of 'When the Saints Go Marching In' after they had edged out Rathdowney Errill of Laois in one of the outstanding hurling games of the year at Netwatch Culllen Park.

If St Mullins were looking for some inspiration ahead of tomorrow’s Leinster semi-final, it was provided on Thursday when selector Micheál Ryan was discharged from hospital.

Selector Micheál Ryan — father of substitute Oisín — suffered a heart attack.

St Mullin's produced the shock of the club championship weekend as the Carlow representatives stunned former All-Ireland champions, Cuala, at Netwatch Cullen Park.

All the GAA action is here.

Shortly before the Leinster hurling championship began, Marty Kavanagh admitted that Carlow would be targeting the Dublin game in particular.

The only problem with throwing a party like this is that you don’t get to have the final say over the guest list.

Carlow's first home game in this year's Leinster senior hurling championship may have made for a heartwarming tale but Kilkenny have never been ones for romance or fairytales.

Carlow attacker Marty Kavanagh reckons a single win could be enough to preserve their Leinster SHC status and admitted they’re targeting the Dublin game in particular.

I don’t know whether it was shock or despair or whether he was hoping something light would lighten the shock and despair, but Damian Martin was somehow trying to introduce a sense of hope after yesterday’s game in Tullamore.

Offaly’s two top forwards Joe Bergin and Shane Dooley hit a combined 4-4 as the Faithful County claimed their first Allianz Hurling League 1B points of the campaign with a deserved victory over Carlow in a game which started in a downpour and ended in a snowstorm at Netwatch Cullen Park.

OFFALY'S two top forwards Joe Bergin and Shane Dooley hit a combined 4-4 as the Faithful County claimed their first NHL Division 1B points of the campaign with a deserved seven-point victory over Carlow in a game which started in a downpour and ended in a snowstorm at Netwatch Cullen Park.

Here’s the lowdown on today’s seven games...

Westmeath and Carlow, the only two Liam McCarthy Cup counties operating outside the top flight of the Allianz hurling league, will contest the Division 2A final next weekend after Carlow’s two point victory over the Lake County at Netwatch Cullen Park yesterday.

The Allianz League Division 2A final will almost certainly be contested by Westmeath and Carlow next month. The the two Liam McCarthy Cup sides in the section recorded further wins, over Kildare and Antrim, at the weekend, setting up a dead-rubber clash between them at Netwatch Cullen Park, on Sunday.

Kilkenny 2-14 Carlow 2-12: They never actually trailed but Kilkenny still departed Netwatch Cullen Park wiping beads of sweat from their brow last night.

Carlow 2-18 Antrim 1-11: Carlow’s 10-point victory over visitors Antrim at Netwatch Cullen Park yesterday in this final round robin Leinster SHC tie saw the Barrowsiders retain their Liam MacCarthy Cup status while condemning the Saffrons to the Christy Ring Cup for 2016.

Laois 1-17 Carlow 1-14: Laois half-time substitute Ben Conroy made an instant impact at Netwatch Cullen Park yesterday, scoring 1-2 in the opening minutes of the second half as Seamus ‘Cheddar’ Plunkett’s side stormed into an eight-point lead which Carlow were unable to claw back, despite a brave late rally in this Leinster SHC Round Robin tie.

Kerry salvaged their chances of promotion from Division 2A of the Allianz hurling league when they delivered a dramatic 1-24 to 3-17 win over Carlow at Dr Cullen Park, setting up a dramatic final round of games on Sunday.

NHL Divisional round-up: Carlow remain the front runners in Division 2A after they burst out of the blocks in Ruislip on Saturday, putting London to the sword.

Galway 2-18 Carlow 0-15: Walsh Cup: Helped by goals late in each half from Padraig Brehony and Jonathan Glynn Galway hurlers advanced to a Walsh Cup final after being given a decent challenge from a plucky Carlow side at Network Cullen Park yesterday.

Dublin and Galway advanced to next Saturday’s Bord na Móna Walsh Cup Final at Croke Park (5pm), following wins over Laois and Carlow respectively this afternoon.

St Mullins 0-9 Naomh Eoin, Myshall 0-7

Westmeath 3-19 Carlow 0-10

Carlow 0-14 Westmeath 1-09

Laois 1-22 Carlow 0-14

Antrim made it back-to-back wins in the Leinster SHC qualifier group as they defeated Carlow at Dr Cullen Park.

Antrim are top of the new-look round-robin style Leinster Senior Championship following a 0-23 to 2-11 win over Westmeath this afternoon, while London and Carlow played out a 2-17 apiece draw in Ruislip.

NUIG, UCD, DIT and Antrim booked places in next weekend's Bord na Móna Walsh Cup quarter-finals, following this weekends action.

The four semi-final places for the Carlow SHC were decided over the weekend, with holders Mount Leinster Rangers safely through.

Doubts still hang over the ability of champions, Mount Leinster Rangers to complete a three-in-a-row of Carlow SHC titles after they struggled to beat a lacklustre Erin’s Own at Dr Cullen Park on Saturday on a 2-10 to 0-8 scoreline.

Carlow 0-9 Wexford 1-12

Kilkenny and Wexford will meet in the Bord Gais Energy Leinster Under-21 Hurling Championship final following semi-final wins over Offaly and Carlow respectively this evening.

Laois 2-18 Carlow 0-13

Laois 2-18 Carlow 0-13

Carlow 4-17 London 2-13

Carlow 4-17 London 2-13

Dublin 3-15 Carlow 0-11

Dublin 3-15 Carlow 0-11