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Kerry, Offaly and Carlow club hurling teams continue on road to Croke Park after weekend action

Published 17:54 20 Jul 2015 BST

Updated 12:35 27 Jul 2015 BST

Kerry, Offaly and Carlow club hurling teams continue on road to Croke Park after weekend action

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The Kerry senior football team may have been the biggest draw in Killarney on Saturday night, but in a corner of the Kingdom there was more interest in the small ball than a size five O'Neills this past weekend. The senior hurling championship got underway on Friday night, and defending champions Lixnaw overcame great rivals Ballyheigue by 0-17 to 0-15 in the opening game. Despite hitting 12 wides over the course of the match, the holders secured an important win to set up a round two clash with Causeway, where they delivered a convincing 2-17 to 0-16 victory. Last year's beaten finalists Kilmoyley, with former Carlow and Kerry manager John Meyler in the hotseat, were held to a draw by Crotta O'Neills with the game ending 1-17 each. That result was after extra-time, with the teams deadlocked at 1-13 after the 60 minutes, and the replay is set to be decided this evening by the Kerry County Board's CCCC. Elsewhere, Abbeydorney await the winners of that replay after they beat St Brendans by 1-17 to 2-10, but Brendan's bounced back in style to beat Ballyheigue by 0-10 to 0-9. In Offaly, meanwhile, and former All-Ireland finalists Kilcormac-Killoughey's unbeaten record in the county senior championship is now at an incredible 27 games after securing a 1-13 to 1-11 win over Shinrone. Dan Currams goal proved crucial for the 2014 Leinster club finalists in the second half of the tie having trailed by 0-9 to 0-5 at the break. Shane Dooley was to the fore for Tullamore as they beat Shamrocks by 3-23 to 0-9 in their clash on Saturday. Birr racked up a cricket score in their win 5-34 to 1-10 win over Brosna Gaels, while Coolderry beat Kinnitty by 2-19 to 1-16 St Rynanghs beat Belmont by 1-9 to 1-6 while Clareen outfit Seir Kieran beat Ballinamere by 1-20 to 0-19. And in Carlow former All-Ireland club finalists Mt Leinster Rangers secured an easy win over Naomh Brid with a 3-19 to 0-4 win while St Mullins beat Naomh Eoin 1-19 to 1-15.