As rates of childhood obesity soar, one Cork school is reviving the once-common schoolyard activity of skipping to boost child fitness and co-ordination skills, writes Ellie O’Byrne.

In Cork two rugby nurseries, a mere 2km apart, Schools Cup legends linger long in the memory.

The hurlers of Midleton CBS bid to continue an excellent few weeks for the East Cork school when they take on Coláiste Eoin Stillorgan in today’s All-Ireland post-primary SHC quarter-final (Nowlan Park, 2pm).

Elle Sorensen and Amy Ahearne’s nerves of steel saw Crescent win back the Munster Schoolgirls Senior Cup title over last year’s vanquishers Mount Mercy at Garryduff via a shoot-out.

Taylor Gleeson’s last gasp score earned defending champions Glenstal Abbey a second chance as they secured a dramatic draw against Bandon Grammar.

Now that the knockout phase of the 2018/19 edition of the Harty Cup has arrived, a familiar question is again posed: Is this the year a Cork school ends the county’s longest-running Harty famine?

Two Cork teens have claimed the scalp of the British school that boasts 19 former UK prime ministers by talking their way to a prestigious debating title.

Ursulines Thurles’ hopes of a first Subway All-Ireland Schoolgirls title since 1996 are all but dead as Kilkenny College and Banbridge Academy led the way on the first day of the national championships at Havelock Park yesterday.

A Cork City primary school is to take over the management of an adjacent creche that unexpectedly closed this week.

PBC 16, Crescent CC 3: Pres overcame treacherous conditions and a courageous Crescent College Comprehensive to book a Munster Schools Senior Cup semi-final place at wind-swept Lansdowne yesterday.

CBC Cork 1-12 Scoil na Tríonóide Naofa, Doon 1-8: A 47th-minute Billy Cain goal helped CBC retain the Munster Colleges Junior ‘B’ Hurling Championship title in Mallow yesterday.

Scoil Aiséirí Farranree are hoping for an extra Christmas present this year - a number one single.

St Brendan’s College, Killarney 1-15 De La Salle College, Macroom 1-8: Munster and All Ireland college’s champions St Brendan’s College, Killarney, qualified for the quarter-final of the Corn Uí Mhuirí in Rathmore yesterday. Two wins out of two for The Sem, having emerged comfortable victors in this tie.

Gardaí are hunting for two arsonists who targeted a school for children with autism.

Christian Brothers College Cork survived a late rally by Crescent Comprehensive to win their 29th Munster Schools Senior Cup title in a welter of excitement at Musgrave Park today.

CBS HS Clonmel (Tipperary) 1-10 St Francis College, Rochestown (Cork) 0-7: Football in Clonmel is enjoying something of a golden age, and the prospect of a dream-like spring remains a reality after Saturday’s Corn Uí Mhuirí semi-final in Fermoy.

Corn Uí Mhuirí (Munster PPS U18½ AFC) semi-finals

Ardscoil Rís 2-11 St Francis Rochestown 1-7: Two goals in a four-minute spell midway through the second-half propelled Ardscoil Rís into the penultimate round of the Harty Cup.

The fixing of the Corn Uí Mhuirí final replay between Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne and St Francis College, Rochestown, for Rathmore at 1.30pm on Sunday would appear to have drawn more favour with the Cork school.

A top Cork City secondary school today opens a new pastoral care centre for its 1,000-plus students, providing counselling for everything from third-level courses to family breakdowns.

Pobal Scoil Chorca Dhuibhne (Kerry) 1-10 St Francis College, Rochestown (Cork) 1-10

Pobal Scoil Chorca Dhuibhne 1-10 St Francis College Rochestown 1-10

Munster Schools: PBC Cork 25 Glenstal Abbey 3

Munster Post Primary SAFA semi-final: St Francis College, Rochestown 1-10 St Brendan’s College, Killarney 1-9

St. Francis College, Rochestown remain on course for an unprecedented ‘Quadruple’ following an exciting one point victory over favourites, St. Brendan’s, Killarney in this Corn Uí Mhuirí (Munster Colleges Senior ‘A’ football) semi-final at Mallow today.

St Francis College, Rochestown 4-11Ard Scoil Rís 1-17: Dr Harty Cup semi-final: Not since Midleton CBS’s win of 2006 has a Cork school inscribed its name on the Dr Harty Cup, but the possibility of that run ending remains a live possibility after this Charleville cracker.

Clonakilty CC 1-13 IS Killorglin 1-5

St Francis College Rochestown 3-9 Nenagh CBS 2-8: Tour-de-force performances from Ciarán Cormack and Shane Kingston returned St Francis College, Rochestown to the semi-final juncture of the Harty Cup for a second successive year.

Today’s Corn Uí Mhuirí Group B clash between St Brendan’s College and Coláiste na Sceilge is the second meeting of the Kerry schools in eight days.

Bandon Grammar 43 Naomh Áine Killaloe 0

Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig 1-11 Scoil Aodháin 1-10

Parents fighting to prevent the closure of a historic Cork school are taking their campaign on to the streets.

The Corn Uí Mhuirí quarter-final involving Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne and Coláiste Chríost Rí is to be replayed, the Munster post primary CCC has ruled.

A verdict on the first black card controversy will be delivered by the Munster Post Primary CCC this afternoon.

The fallout from the first black card officiating error looks set to hold up Munster’s Corn Uí Mhuirí football competition.

The opening of two primary schools in Cork and Dublin has been deferred by Education Minister Rúairí Quinn because there was not enough support for the patrons who applied to run them.

There was a new start for first-year students but also for staff as a Cork school moved to a temporary home in a former hospital.