There was drama aplenty in Castlemartyr yesterday evening as Aghada saw off the challenge of their neighbours from Cloyne in a gripping first round encounter of the Cork PIHC.

Willie Maher did the official Croke Park tour once and, among the assorted tidbits he took from the experience, was the fact that there are 34 steps from the bottom of the Hogan Stand up to the spot where silverware is raised to the heavens.

Fr Mathews advanced to the final of the NICC Women’s National Cup when they comfortably defeated Cork rivals Glanmire at the Neptune Stadium last night.

A crowd of 3,224 is not what you expect for a first-round Munster SHL fixture on a cold and, at times, wet evening in mid-December. Then again, this wasn’t your run-of-the-mill pre-season blowout.

CAITRIONA COLLINS scored a goal and six points while Minor star Saoirse McCarthy added four from play as Cork put the agony of two consecutive defeats at the last hurdle behind them to become Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Intermediate Camogie champions.

Heartbreak for holders Presentation Brothers College Cork as they fell to a late injury time sucker punch.

UL claimed their third Ashbourne Cup title in a row at Mallow last night, but only after a hard-fought three-point victory over arch rivals UCC.

It is difficult to gauge what Presentation Brothers College Cork will have learned from this disturbingly one-sided Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup quarter-final at Musgrave Park yesterday.

Cork were singing in the rain at the Coralstown Kinnegad grounds, producing a power-packed second-half performance to win the Littlewoods Ireland Camogie Leagues Division 2 title for a fifth time.

Cork 0-16 Limerick 0-6: The advantages of being able to play members of a minor team that has yet to make its championship debut were evident in the Gaelic Grounds last evening, when Cork easily defeated Limerick before a crowd of 468 in the opening round of the Munster U17 hurling championship.

Christian Brothers College Cork grabbed a last minute victory over holders Crescent College Comprehensive in a pulsating Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Junior Cup final at Musgrave Park today.

PBC 11 Glenstal Abbey 3: Not even the torrential rain and the strong, cold and swirling wind at Thomond Park yesterday could dampen the delight of Presentation Brothers Cork as they defeated Glenstal Abbey by 11-3 to capture the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup for the 29th time.

PBC ... 11, Glenstal ... 3: Presentation Brothers joined their Cork neighbours at the top of the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup honours list when they enjoyed a fully deserved 11-3 victory over Glenstal in a Thomond Park final spoiled by incessant, torrential rain.

CBC Cork 15 PBC Cork 0: After a 15-15 draw in their first meeting, Christian Brothers College produced the goods to deservedly advance to the final of the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Junior Cup at the expense of local rivals Presentation College at Musgrave Park yesterday.

CBC ...15, PBC ... 0: Two second half tries from CBC winger Aaron Leahy proved totally decisive as his side earned themselves a deserved place in the final of the Clayton Munster Schools Junior Cup replay win over old rivals at Musgrave Park today.

CBC Cork 15 - PBC Cork 15: Two high-quality sides produced a very entertaining derby at Musgrave Park yesterday.

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen says Scott Fardy’s experience will play a crucial role in the development of the academy players at the province. The 32-year-old versatile Brumbies lock will join Leinster after the Super Rugby season ends.

PBC Cork 12 Bandon Grammar School 3: Underdogs Bandon Grammar School underlined the rise of West Cork rugby with a gallant effort in defeat in a tense Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup semi-final clash at Musgrave Park.

Presentation Brothers College, the favourites, had to battle all the way before overcoming brave, injury-hit Bandon Grammar School in a pulsating Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup final at Musgrave Park today.

Joey Carbery will make his first start at full-back for Leinster in their Guinness PRO12 visit to Dragons tonight.

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.

UCC 3-15 Cork IT 0-12: Last year’s runners-up UCC secured their place in the Ashbourne Cup quarter-final following victory over Cork IT at the host’s grounds last evening. Two wins out of two now for the UCC girls and if they can get the better of DCU in their final Group One game in Dublin, a spot in the semi-final awaits.

This evening’s clash at the RDS will be Pat Lam’s 98th in charge of Connacht and it is safe to say that he still has little difficulty coming up with a cause for his men each time they go out.

Kilmurry Ibrickane 2-13 Cratloe 0-6: A powerful second-half performance saw Kilmurry Ibrickane claim their 11th Clare SFC title in front of a crowd of 3,722 at Cusack Park, Ennis.

Edinburgh isn’t exactly the scene of last week’s crime but it should be close enough to concentrate minds as Leinster seek to atone for the manner in which they coughed up a winning lead down the M8 in Glasgow last time out.

Glasgow Warriors lay in wait to ambush another Irish side when Leo Cullen’s troops trot out at Scotstoun this afternoon (3pm).

Kerry 4-17, Meath 3-11: Kerry claimed their fifth consecutive All-Ireland M’B’HC title when overcoming a determined Meath side in Semple Stadium on Saturday.

Girvan Dempsey believes Rob Kearney is poised to return to something like the form of old now that the Leinster and Ireland full-back finally appears to have put a prolonged period of injury frustration behind him.

Leinster 19 Bath 39: Semesa Rokoduguni, Harry Davies and George Ford helped themselves to second-half tries at Donnybrook last night, as Leinster’s pre-season campaign ended with a 20-point defeat against Bath.

Kerry SFC Round 2A - Dr Crokes 2-16 St Kieran’s 3-12: After a facile passage to Round 2 the previous weekend, Dr Crokes were given a much sterner examination of their Kerry SFC credentials as they just sneaked past a dogged St Kieran’s side in Cordal on Saturday.