Junior Roy Keane sought for short film — thousand yard stare essential

Young Cork lad who can accurately portray smouldering fury, an admiration for the life and times of Brian Clough, and a grá for walking dogs — or something like that. Thousand-yard stare essential-

The search is on for an actor to play the role of the young Roy Keane in a “12-minute comedy” film of the former Irish captain’s footballing childhood.

Yesterday the man behind the film, Rockmount, Dave Tynan, said he was targeting Leesiders for the task.

Speaking on Dublin station Phantom 105.2, Dave Tynan said: “It’s important to me that we are going to use Cork kids. We are going to cast there and shoot down there as much as we can.”

The hook for the film is the notion that Roy — the iconic footballer viewed by many teammates and foes alike as a force of nature — was just as unrelenting, unwavering, committed and intense as a small boy.

“I always wondered that about Keane because he is so single-minded,” said Tynan.

“It cracked me up to think: well, what if you had that but he’s a kid and he’s going into Supervalu in Cork in 1981 but he’s exactly that bloke. That was the genesis of it I suppose.

“The film is kind of based around that idea, that he is exactly the same person but a kid. For me there is a bit of humour in that. There Will Be Tackles was my alternative title for it. It’s not properly based on fact. It’s not a documentary. It’s a 12-minute comedy short.”

Auditions will take place shortly, with the filmmakers aiming to begin shooting it in March and to have it completed by July for the Galway Film Fleadh, which is an Oscar qualifier.

Roy may or may not be aware of the film but with his often-underestimated sense of humour, he may get a kick out of it. Dave Tynan is certainly hopeful of some level of involvement by the former Man Utd legend.

“It is with his agent anyway, so I’d love him to read it,” said Tynan. “We’ve got it as close to him as we can and, after that, I don’t know. Maybe in the order of his ‘to do’ list, it jumps up slightly; but he’s a very busy man.”

Speaking yesterday, he said auditions will take place in Cork, possibly in “five or six weeks,” while shooting would take up to four days.

Some of the film may be shot in Cork and it’s hoped the finished short will take off on the festival circuit.

Asked about the possibility of a Roy cameo, Dave said: “We can dream about it, maybe.

“It would be lovely if he read it and gave it his blessing. We will see.”