Easter brings Roy’s resurrection

MAYBE it was all the talk of resurrection over the Easter weekend that did it because as comebacks go, Roy Keane’s latter-day version has almost as much drama as the original.

But while some might view the mystifying midfielder as a saviour for his momentous return to the fold, it's his similarity to another illustrious biblical figure that more vividly springs to mind.

Moses may hold the record for epic partings after his Red Sea exploits but when it comes to splitting a nation into two seething, spitting, polar-positioned sides, no one can cut it quite like Roy.

So in case you didn't lose enough sleep and sanity first time around, wake-up to groundhog day, say bonjour to déja vù and embrace all those eerie premonitions that have been pottering about the back of your mind in a number six shirt.

The timing could have been better. Support group, SOS (Survivors of Saipan), had just scaled down their weekly sessions to bi-monthly meetings.

Family reconciliation therapy was recording its first successes in reuniting siblings rent asunder by World Cup 2002.

Improvements to the N8 were beginning to bring Cork and Dublin closer together. The shell-shocked Japanese had just gone back to equating Ireland with serene golf courses instead of the ranting, raving, bulging-eyed lunatics who invaded their polite society over a memorable month two years ago.

But at least the interminable will he, won't he, can he, can't he debate of the last one year, 10 months, 23 days and 22 hours is over.

He can, he is, he's willing and now we only have to hope his hips hold out.

At least there's something other than the smoking ban for folk to get worked up over, although it could be argued that the stress of reliving the trauma may drive more people to cigarettes and more smokers to flout the law, leading to renewed debate over the ban, and causing us all to recall once more, with Collins, Martin and Keane in mind, that it takes a Corkman to divide a country.

And at least it gives David Beckham a break after his very long, long weekend. Only the Comeback Keane could sideline the hoopla over his former Manchester United teammate's love triangle, or hexagon as it probably is by now.

Keane's relationships are only a marginally less complicated affair. Some of those players he not so endearingly termed "muppets" have retired or felt the bum-numbing sensation of the substitutes bench but others on whom he wasted no affection are still playing the field. It prompts the question of whether his secret heart-to-heart with Brian Kerr last week involved the drawing up of some class of a prenuptial agreement before the reunion was formally announced.

If so, does it involve conditions such as Jason McAteer promising never to cross his path on the pitch or at least not without a muzzle? Does it impose a life-long ban on Mick McCarthy attending Ireland matches?

The resurrection of Roy's international career raises as many questions as answers.

But one thing is for certain. Roy is not going to play the submissive role of prodigal son when he next dons the green so the nation better learn to accept his return with good grace.

It's a tall order but then it is the season of miracles.

Keane odds

5/4: Ireland to qualify for 2006 World Cup.

2/1: Keane to captain at 2006 World Cup.

5/1: To score a goal for Ireland at the 2006 World Cup.

10/1: To be next permanent Ireland manager.

16/1: To be Ireland's player-manager at the 2006 World Cup.

33/1: To be named FIFA player of tournament at the 2006 World Cup.

14/1: To score first against Cyprus in the first World Cup qualifier.

33/1: To be sent off against Cyprus in the first World Cup qualifier.

80/1: To score a hat-trick against Cyprus in the first World Cup qualifier.

200/1: To have Mick McCarthy as his assistant manager for Ireland at the 2006 World Cup.

500/1: To have Jason McAteer as his assistant manager for Ireland at the 2006 World Cup.

Odds from Paddy Power