Keane looking for next generation of Irish legends in the League of Ireland

Roy Keane is from the generation of Irish players who became Irish legends with their performances in qualifying and playing at the World Cup. The Republic of Ireland assistant manager will be looking for the players in the current squad to secure their own legendary status by making it to Russia 2018.

Within that squad there are of course players, who like Keane, began their career in the League of Ireland and Keane spoke on that topic at Tuesday’s SSE Airtricity League launch at the Aviva Stadium. Keane emphasised that, along with Martin O’Neill, he will continue to keep an eye on players to see who can be elevated into the Irish international squad – as occurred with Daryl Horgan, Andy Boyle and Gary Rogers in the last year.

“Martin and myself enjoying going to watch (League of Ireland) matches and it certainly isn’t a PR exercise,” said Keane. “We are looking at players who we think might get a chance and will get the opportunity to come into the senior squad.

“The profile of the league is helped with the likes of Cork and particularly Dundalk having success in Europe. All of a sudden we had League of Ireland players competing against some really good teams in Europe. Watching these players and looking at them, your eyes don’t lie. When you are watching a good player, you are watching a good player, no matter what level he is playing at.”

Roy Keane speaking to @ConMurphySport at the SSE Airtricity League launch at the Aviva Stadium pic.twitter.com/K1oziCg4C6

— Extratime.ie (@ExtratimeNews) February 14, 2017

“We’ve been impressed with lots of players. A couple of lads have managed to get involved in the senior squad and we’d like to think that it will continue in the next couple of years.

“It would be different if we were going to watch matches and players weren’t getting a sniff of the senior team. If you are a player playing League of Ireland and you are looking at the couple of lads who have got involved, the first thing you are asking yourself is ‘why can’t that be me’.”

The visual backdrop to the league launch in the Aviva Stadium was a banner with players from each League of Ireland Premier Division club, along with former league players and now international players, James McClean, Kevin Doyle and Ireland captain Seamus Coleman.

‘Where the next generation of legends are born’ was the tagline. The FAI emphasising how domestic talent can help the national team as they showcased last summer when eight of the Ireland squad at Euro 2016 were developed from the League of Ireland.

The SSE Airtricity League. Where the next generation of legends are born. #LOIpic.twitter.com/36J2z4KZPo

— SSEAirtricity League (@SSEAirtricityLg) February 14, 2017

The league also got a great publicity boost with Dundalk’s exploits in the Europa League group stages. “A great style of football,” was Keane’s view on Stephen Kenny’s champions but he also had words of encouragement later for a team from his own county. “Dundalk have had all the plaudits. They play good attacking football and have a lot of possession. They have had their rewards for it by playing really attractive football.

“It was great for Cork City to win the cup. I was at the game. It was tough on Dundalk when you think of the travel arrangements that they had that week. It was a great boost for Cork City. It will give them a lot of confidence going forward. When you have success like Dundalk or Cork City, you just want more of it.”

Keane will be back in the Aviva Stadium next month when Ireland take on Wales in their crucial World Cup qualifier and unsurprisingly it is a game he can’t wait for.

“We are really excited. It is nice to see some of our lads doing well week in week out. We have a bit of momentum but there is added pressure as when you get a little bit of success, people automatically think you can turn up and win football matches but it doesn’t work that way. We are up against a very good team with some outstanding individuals but Martin has done a brilliant job. We have a great spirit and there is a good energy in the group. We have some really good players and the fans are right behind us at the moment.”