‘It’s sad because he’s Irish and a great footballer’

ALL farewells should be sudden, Lord Byron once said but Roy Keane’s departure as Sunderland manager came as no surprise in one of the Corkman’s old watering holes.

The Templeacre Tavern in Gurranabraher on the northside of Cork city is not far from Rockmount FC where Roy Keane began his playing days as a boy before going on to become one of the greatest midfield general’s of his generation.

News of the former Manchester United captain’s departure came as no surprise to customers with many saying they had expected it.