IRELAND’S beleaguered taxpayers will shed no tears because wealthy horse-breeders are finally to lose their lucrative tax exemptions on stud fees.

FOR those who enjoy a gamble, you could do worse than putting a few quid on a draw in Newbridge tomorrow. At 13/2, it looks like the bet of the weekend, better value than Bolton inflicting another defeat on Leeds.

Can EPA be sure about accident despite delay in getting to the site, writes Political Reporter Mary Dundon.

PETER CANAVAN yesterday dismissed suggestions that Tyrone ‘over celebrated’ their All-Ireland semi-final defeat of Armagh three weeks ago, insisting they never lost sight of Kerry and the final.

FURIOUS Manchester United will launch a vigorous defence of under-fire duo Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo.

AS the supporters flood out from Clones to drown the bile of their rivalry in the local bars, the scene on the pitch is a tale of two Micheals.

THIERRY HENRY has vowed to continue scoring the goals which will finally prove to Real Madrid that he has no intention of swapping Highbury, where he is the “happiest man in the world”, for the Bernabeu.

WHEN you take the hype out of the responses to the NIB report it is hard to avoid the conclusion that the Irish banking sector has been the spawning ground for an ethos in this country that regards tax evasion and contempt for the law as totally acceptable behaviour.

RAFAEL BENITEZ was left cursing the officials after Liverpool lost in unfortunate circumstances to Sao Paulo in the Club World Championship final in Yokohama.

YOU’D have thought a 70th Munster SFC title at the expense of arch rivals Cork would warrant mass celebrations in the Kerry dressing rooms at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday.

Ballyduff Upper 1-15 Passage East 0-8

Limerick 4-24 Kerry 0-2

Castres 58 Harlequins 13

OUTSTANDING captain Colin Corkery accepted last night that Cork got out of jail in Sunday's Bank of Ireland, Munster SFC final clash with Tipperary at Semple Stadium.

DAVID BECKHAM believes he has proved that he can no longer be goaded by provocation after he came through another severe test of his temperament against Turkey to help England seal an automatic place in the Euro 2004 finals.

ROMANIA, desperately unlucky not to reach the European Championship finals in Portugal next month, will provide stiff opposition for Ireland in tonight’s friendly at Lansdowne Road.