Keane meets Keane as Cork hails Roy

He famously quoted “fail to prepare, prepare to fail” at the height of the Saipan controversy, and in his new book explains that for him being “on time” for training means showing up half an hour early.

So Roy Keane must have been impressed by the dedication on show as his native Cork queued for hours to meet the assistant Ireland manager at a book signing yesterday.

Keane was joined by ghostwriter Roddy Doyle at Eason’s on St Patrick’s Street, where the pair posed for photos and signed copies of The Second Half, the former Manchester United captain’s second autobiography.

Barriers were erected and gardaí and security were on hand, though staff said that the 300-strong crowd was not as big as the masses that greeted Keane at the Cork signing of his first book 12 years ago.

Paul O’Sullivan from Blarney was the dedicated soul who waited nearly five hours to secure his place at the top of the queue to meet Keane. “It was early enough, about half seven I’d say. I wasn’t too sure how busy it’d be and with only 300 people allowed in to get the book signed I said I’d better be on the safe side,” he said. “I’m a massive United fan, the whole family is, my Dad, uncle the whole lot, it’s a family thing really. It’s my first time to meet him, I’m pretty excited, it’ll be great to meet him.”

While some fans waited hours to meet the Leeside legend, one little fan’s lifelong wait was finally over, as Roy met Keane Byrne from Kilworth — a two-year-old named in his honour.

First to meet Roy was two-year-old Keane Byrne O'Regan named after the Mayfield man. #Cork pic.twitter.com/8ZQ7NM0UY5

— Alan Healy (@AlanHealy) December 9, 2014

Little Keane was born with Down syndrome and with a hole in his heart, so his namesake’s battling qualities proved the inspiration for his proud parents.

“He was named after Roy because he was born with a hole in his heart, so we said that if his heart was as strong as Roy’s, but his tempers weren’t as bad, he might be alright. So he had a heart operation last year and he’s flying it now, thank God. Today is his first day to meet him,” beaming Dad Ronald O’Regan said after the meeting.

“He was wondering how he was and how his medical health was. We told him about his heart and he was asking how he was,” said mum Gillian Byrne.

She also revealed that Roy’s brother Johnson sent them good wishes on the night Keane was born.

“We were thinking then we might have seen the man himself, but that didn’t happen. But today was a nice surprise, the best treat ever,” she said. Ronald admitted that Keane is more interested in Peppa Pig than football right now, but that he will definitely grow up to be a United fan.

“I’m the biggest Roy Keane fan in the world. It’s just the way he played and what he did for the country really. I’m more of an Ireland supporter than I am Man U, but no matter where he played he was fantastic.

“I always said if he was the manager of the Israeli marbles team I’d still follow him there. No matter what he does I’ll follow him. I love him, he’s always been my favourite, he’s fantastic.”