Roy Keane review: Chants of 'Keano' greet homecoming hero at the Marquee in Cork
Roy Keane chatting during the first of three nights of his 'In Conversation with Roddy Doyle' at Live at the Marquee in Cork on Monday evening. Picture: Darragh Kane
The roar that greeted Roy Keane in Cork on Monday night surely echoed through the streets of Mayfield across the river, where he grew up in the city’s northside.
The journey to the Marina saw sporting heroes like Olympic gold medalist Kellie Harrington mingling among a sea of jerseys — Ireland, Man United, Celtic among them — but this was no soccer match.
No, Keano is home, holding court at Live at the Marquee, and no topic was off limits.
Gathering in the sun before proceedings began, devoted fans grouped together to toast to a great night of football chat and Cork successes.
There was an air of nostalgia as gig-goers recalled favourite matches, memorable moments, and, of course, classic Roy-isms.
It’s no surprise his hometown audience was audibly eager to see the infamous footballer and pundit. He has only grown more popular in retirement, between punditry and podcasts, and Cork people love to support their own.
Keane’s chat with author Roddy Doyle was the fastest event of the festival to sell out this year, followed swiftly by their second and third nights.
Promoter Peter Aiken predicted two weeks ago that Keano wouldn’t know what hit him when that first roar reached him on stage, but he was cool as a cucumber, brushing off the adoration with a sly smile. But of course, fans will cry, "that’s his job!"
Emerging on stage as a promo video played that showed him in his heyday, arguing passionately during an Arsenal match, Keano looked a little sheepish as the crowd roared and chanted his name.
When Doyle mentioned the warm welcome, Keane quipped, “They can change in an instant.”
The pair quickly dove into the discussions, ranging from retirement to Manchester United, to the World Cup, to why Keane sees himself as a Rockmount man above all.
Keane said that his early days in Mayfield set the foundation for his future sporting career.
“There was always competition in Mayfield,” he said, referencing the different sports he played with the other local kids.
“It was edgy, it was good, there was always something to do.”
A whirlwind tour of his soccer career followed and a calm Keane recounted the steps to success he experienced.
“You make it sound easy,” Doyle noted at one stage.
“It kind of is,” the ever humble star replied.
He mentioned a few times how he feels he has matured: He no longer runs straight to the pub upon arriving in Cork, for example, and he now holds himself back from flying into a fight.
One of his most notorious clashes was the Saipan incident during the 2002 World Cup, which is another topic he was happy to cover. Roy said:
His clash with then Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy is the subject of an upcoming film, 'Saipan', with Cork actor Éanna Hardwicke playing Keane.
Will he watch it? “Nah.”
One of the biggest laughs of the night came when he spoke about getting his manager job with Sunderland.
After getting the role, he was shown to his new office and admitted something that many of us could identify with: He spent the first hour just twirling excitedly in his new leather chair.
The other big development in his later career was working as a pundit — although Keane was adamant that he doesn’t see himself as a pundit.
He also revealed why he decided to say 'yes' to that first punditry job offer:
“I looked at me horoscope and it said ‘you can’t keep saying no to things’.”
One of Keane’s former teams, Celtic, is also in Cork this week, playing against Cork City FC at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Tuesday evening — a stone’s throw from Live at the Marquee.
With kick-off at 6pm and Keano’s second sold-out gig at 8pm, will he squeeze in a visit to see them play and risk being a few minutes late? Maybe, if his horoscope says yes.
A collection of the latest sports news, reports and analysis from Cork.
