Going against the flow of bank-branch closures, the former West Cork branch of Permanent TSB, in Bandon, is for sale or to let, only because the bank has relocated to a larger premises.

A man who suffers locked-in syndrome following an operation at Cork University Hospital is in line for a lump-sum payment running to millions of euro in a final settlement of his case after a judge yesterday found in his favour on his future care needs.

Nobody within the Munster setup has tried to put a gloss on the performance in last week’s European Champions Cup defeat by Saracens. But end-of-an-era talk? They are not buying into that.

Former All Star attacker Stephen Bray has given Meath a major boost by confirming he will continue his inter-county career.

ULSTER BANK LEAGUE DIVISION 1B:

The trend of the Meath SFC title not being retained since Dunshaughlin completed a three-in-a-row in 2002 continues, with Wolfe Tones sending holders Summerhill packing, 2-11 to 0-8, in a quarter-final clash at Páirc Tailteann on Saturday.

Meath SFC: Reigning Meath champions Summerhill revived their prospects of back-to-back SFC titles following a comprehensive 2-12 to 0-9 win over Rathkenny at Walterstown yesterday.

With a first county senior hurling title since 1991 safely under their belt, the next focus for Midleton has to be the Munster title — so says former great John Fenton. The only Cork club to have won the provincial crown since his own side did it in 1987 has been Newtownshandrum.

Former League of Ireland player Shane Barrett turned in a remarkable display when powering Na Fianna into the semi-finals of the Meath SFC for the first time at Páirc Tailteann on Saturday.

Meath champions Navan O’Mahonys strolled through to the county SFC quarter-finals with a 0-10 to 0-5 victory over Seneschalstown in yesterday’s fourth-round clash at Stamullen.

Kerry pair Eoin Brosnan and Jonathan Lyne are unlikely to be fully fit in time for Kerry’s Munster SFC quarter-final clash with Tipperary at Fitzgerald Stadium on Sunday (2pm).

Navan O’Mahonys 1-11 Wolfe Tones 0-07

This year’s Meath SFC final will be a repeat of the 2006 decider between Navan O’Mahonys and Wolfe Tones following yesterday’s semi-finals at Páirc Tailteann.

New Meath SFC kingpins will be crowned later this month after holders Summerhill lost out to Seneschalstown (2-8 to 0-10) in Saturday’s quarter-final at Skryne.

Simonstown Gaels booked their place in the last eight of the Meath SFC with victory over Walterstown (2-12 to 1-7) yesterday.

Paul Grimley was last night named the new Armagh manager, having served as his predecessor Paddy O’Rourke’s selector this season.

Meath full-back Kevin Reilly has revealed the players made a pact to put the county’s troubles behind them by producing on the field.

KILDALKEY claimed their third successive Meath SHC title with a decisive double scores victory over Navan O’Mahonys in a disappointing final at Pairc Tailteann.

HOLDERS Skryne failed to make it through to the last eight of the Meath SFC despite defeating already qualified Dunboyne by 0-13 to 0-7 at Navan’s Páirc Tailteann on Saturday evening.

LAST year’s beaten finalists and champions in 2009, Seneschalstown, went down to a shock Meath SFC defeat at Rathkenny last evening, promoted Nobber beating them 2-12 to 0-14.

MIDFIELDER Niall Coleman has emerged as a doubt for Galway’s Connacht semi-final showdown against either Mayo or Sligo next month after suffering a leg injury playing for his club yesterday.

IT may only be late November but the whispers emanating from Kilmacud Crokes’ hinterland in south Dublin would suggest that thoughts are already drifting towards St Patrick’s Day and the steps of the Hogan Stand.

DIFFERENT sport, different day, but this was depressingly reminiscent of Ireland’s facile defeat of Canada in Thomond Park on Saturday with one side doing what they wanted, when they wanted against an inferior opponent.

STEPHEN MacGABHANN will make his Championship debut with Meath in Sunday’s Leinster clash with Wicklow in Croke Park.

GALWAY include three seniors on their under-21 team to play Wexford in the All-Ireland hurling championship semi-final at Semple Stadium tomorrow, at 3.30pm.