Date for Cup final changed

A MEETING of the FAI's Cup Committee last night decided that the Harp Lager FAI Cup final, is to be moved forward by a day to Sunday May 4th, and from Lansdowne Road to Dalymount Park.

This follows the decision by the IRFU, in agreement with the FAI, to close Lansdowne Road for pitch renovations along the side beneath the West Stand at less than a month's notice. It had been intended that the association would ratify any agreed decision between the finalists, Derry City and Shelbourne, regarding an alternative arrangement bearing in mind the resulting loss of revenue for both clubs.

However, in the absence of any agreed stance, the association went ahead with their decision anyway. Nor has it been clarified yet as to whether the two clubs will receive any compensation, or whether live televised coverage of the game will go ahead as planned.

The game has been brought forward at the request of Derry City, on the grounds that Monday May 5th is not widely recognised as a bank holiday in the North. In the event of there being a draw on May 4th, the replay will take place at Oriel Park the following Sunday, May 11th with extra time and penalties if needed.

. Wimbledon boss Joe Kinnear is refusing to bill Sunday's English FA Cup semi-final showdown with London rivals Chelsea as a do-or-die Euro showdown.

Both teams head into the high noon Highbury battle in the worst form of the season with Chelsea having lost their last three Premiership games, while the Dons have failed to win in their last eight league encounters.

It means both sides' hopes of a European insurance policy has been virtually wiped out as they now lie seventh and eighth respectively.

But Kinnear has not yet thrown in the towel on his side's UEFA Cup qualification dreams. He said: "Amazingly, we still have an outside chance.