THE blue riband of the domestic game, the FAI Cup final between Derry City and Shelbourne, is to lose its traditional home of the 1990s at Lansdowne Road.

Due to work being conducted on the Lansdowne Road pitch between now and May 18th, a number of rugby fixtures will also have to find alternative homes, namely next Saturday's AIL game between Wanderers and Monkstown, the Leinster: Senior Cup first round tie between Lansdowne and DLSP, and the Leinster Senior Cup semi finals scheduled for May 3rd.

Thus, by far the biggest casualty is the FAI Cup final which was to have been played at the venue for the seventh successive year on Monday, May 5th.

The IRFU secretary, Philip Browne, confirmed last night that the union informed Wanderers, Lansdowne, the Leinster Branch and the FAI of their decision yesterday.