Keane grins and bears it after Harps loss
Credit:
(courtesy of Donegal Democrat)
The entrance of the Cappry Suite in the Villa Rose Hotel was manned by the presence of Finn Harps stewards Tommy Dullaghan and Brian O’Kane. Only the media, certainly swelled in numbers compared to a usual Harps home fixture, were permitted past the two-man luminous shield for the 10pm press conference called by Ipswich Town after Tuesday’s pre-season friendly match at Finn Harps.
Inside, the punctual gathering sat waiting on Roy Keane to appear, with occasional flashes of cameras from the outside foyer posting clues as to his progress.
But the wait went on, some 40 minutes in fact, as journalists mumbled of missed deadlines and jovially reminded one another that Liam Miller was transfer-listed by Keane last season for poor time-keeping. Not that anyone was willing to pop that as their opening question.
Keane, as has been his trademark down the years, entered by the unconventional route. As everyone glared at the front door, he strode in the fire-exit at the back of the suite. Wearing an Ipswich polo-shirt, tracksuit bottoms and trainers, he was clean-shaven and looked as lean as he did as a player. He was in the company of, one assumes, the club’s press officer, who was a rather burly chap.
“We’re taking questions only from the floor,” the suited gentleman announced. “We’re not doing any one-on-one interviews, so if you’d like to start your questions, we’re going to run for about 10 minutes.” Nobody was in a position to argue with him, or indeed his manager. After pouring himself a sparking Ballygowan, Keane, unusually, sat waiting to see who was going to make the next move. He was initially queried about the game, which Harps won 2-1.
“I enjoyed it,” Keane said of his side’s first pre-season outing. “Finn Harps played very, very well. They have a good group of young players and it was a perfect pre-season game for us. It’s a nice reminder. That’s why I like to come over to Ireland to play these sort of matches. These teams don’t hold back. We got no injuries and young Conor (Wickham, 16) did well for us. They’re the positives.” And the negatives, he was asked, before shrugging: “We got beaten.”
It’s 20 years now since Keane performed at Finn Park, when he was a scrawny debutant midfielder with Cobh Ramblers. What were his recollections of that day? “Is it 20 years?” he curiously enquired. “Jesus. And we got beat that day too (3-1). I won’t be coming back here for a while. It might be another 20 years,” as he shook his head and grinned while the scribblers jotted the year 2029 into their diaries.
“Nah, but listen,” he continued. “I’ve always enjoyed coming to Ireland. When you come over - I’m not saying that teams show you no respect - but they always want to do well against you and Finn Harps did that tonight. They did exactly what I wanted them to do. They played well, got stuck into us and hit us on the break.
“There’s always something at stake in football and I wanted to see some of my players. This is the first time we’ve had the group together. I only had two games and a few training sessions at the end of last season. It was the first time I got the chance to see four or five of my own players.
“Finn Harps brought us here and made us really welcome. I enjoyed today. I really did. See the teams in Ireland; we’re too quick to criticise them. The teams I’m managing will always be coming to Ireland for pre-season.
“They look after you, they give you tough matches and the fans enjoy the game. Credit to League of Ireland teams and credit to Finn Harps tonight. Their fitness levels are very good, they played some good football. It’s been a good night.”
The Ipswich manager was then quizzed on the hopes of his team for the season ahead, and, inevitably, the situation of Stephen Ireland, his fellow Corkman. Keane diplomatically stated he hoped his team “would be in the mix,” in the Championship and welcomed any progress on the situation regarding the Manchester City midfielder returning to the international fold.
With that, the 10-minute deadline was reached. Keane, this time left by the front door. The flashes started once more.
The entrance of the Cappry Suite in the Villa Rose Hotel was manned by the presence of Finn Harps stewards Tommy Dullaghan and Brian O’Kane. Only the media, certainly swelled in numbers compared to a usual Harps home fixture, were permitted past the two-man luminous shield for the 10pm press conference called by Ipswich Town after Tuesday’s pre-season friendly match at Finn Harps.
Inside, the punctual gathering sat waiting on Roy Keane to appear, with occasional flashes of cameras from the outside foyer posting clues as to his progress.
But the wait went on, some 40 minutes in fact, as journalists mumbled of missed deadlines and jovially reminded one another that Liam Miller was transfer-listed by Keane last season for poor time-keeping. Not that anyone was willing to pop that as their opening question.
Keane, as has been his trademark down the years, entered by the unconventional route. As everyone glared at the front door, he strode in the fire-exit at the back of the suite. Wearing an Ipswich polo-shirt, tracksuit bottoms and trainers, he was clean-shaven and looked as lean as he did as a player. He was in the company of, one assumes, the club’s press officer, who was a rather burly chap.
“We’re taking questions only from the floor,” the suited gentleman announced. “We’re not doing any one-on-one interviews, so if you’d like to start your questions, we’re going to run for about 10 minutes.” Nobody was in a position to argue with him, or indeed his manager. After pouring himself a sparking Ballygowan, Keane, unusually, sat waiting to see who was going to make the next move. He was initially queried about the game, which Harps won 2-1.
“I enjoyed it,” Keane said of his side’s first pre-season outing. “Finn Harps played very, very well. They have a good group of young players and it was a perfect pre-season game for us. It’s a nice reminder. That’s why I like to come over to Ireland to play these sort of matches. These teams don’t hold back. We got no injuries and young Conor (Wickham, 16) did well for us. They’re the positives.” And the negatives, he was asked, before shrugging: “We got beaten.”
It’s 20 years now since Keane performed at Finn Park, when he was a scrawny debutant midfielder with Cobh Ramblers. What were his recollections of that day? “Is it 20 years?” he curiously enquired. “Jesus. And we got beat that day too (3-1). I won’t be coming back here for a while. It might be another 20 years,” as he shook his head and grinned while the scribblers jotted the year 2029 into their diaries.
“Nah, but listen,” he continued. “I’ve always enjoyed coming to Ireland. When you come over - I’m not saying that teams show you no respect - but they always want to do well against you and Finn Harps did that tonight. They did exactly what I wanted them to do. They played well, got stuck into us and hit us on the break.
“There’s always something at stake in football and I wanted to see some of my players. This is the first time we’ve had the group together. I only had two games and a few training sessions at the end of last season. It was the first time I got the chance to see four or five of my own players.
“Finn Harps brought us here and made us really welcome. I enjoyed today. I really did. See the teams in Ireland; we’re too quick to criticise them. The teams I’m managing will always be coming to Ireland for pre-season.
“They look after you, they give you tough matches and the fans enjoy the game. Credit to League of Ireland teams and credit to Finn Harps tonight. Their fitness levels are very good, they played some good football. It’s been a good night.”
The Ipswich manager was then quizzed on the hopes of his team for the season ahead, and, inevitably, the situation of Stephen Ireland, his fellow Corkman. Keane diplomatically stated he hoped his team “would be in the mix,” in the Championship and welcomed any progress on the situation regarding the Manchester City midfielder returning to the international fold.
With that, the 10-minute deadline was reached. Keane, this time left by the front door. The flashes started once more.
