Whizz-kid Keane’s second doping test spoils hero’s big night

By Mark Gallagher

WAITING in the mixed zone for Robbie Keane. As themes of the night go, it is not the most endearing, but it is becoming commonplace on these Irish nights of glory.

As the Irish team saunter out of the Yokohama Stadium and towards Seoul, for the second game in a row there is no sign of Robbie Keane, Ireland’s top World Cup goal-scorer following that sweetly-struck 7th minute effort past Al-Deayea.

Calls are made for the departing hacks’ bus, still no sign of Robbie. These nights of glory have ended with us waiting for Robbie to relieve himself before revealing himself.

It was just bad luck that Keane was called to the doping control room for a second successive game, after all it is decided by drawing lots (thankfully, the only time that particular game of chance was employed yesterday), but you wouldn’t have guessed it from Keane’s reaction.

Heading down the tunnel after the team’s emotional lap of honour, a FIFA official nabbed Keane.

Kevin Kilbane was also taken away, but Keane, who spent over an hour in the room following the exertions in Ibaraki was less than pleased.

A night of glory brought to an end by taking a whizz, Keane unleashed his fury on the FIFA official.

Outside, we waited for Robbie but he wasn’t going to arrive. Officialdom spoiled another of his big nights, his reaction understandable. We would have to wait to hear his thoughts on being Ireland’s top scorer in a World Cup, what he remembers of another goal closer to Niall Quinn’s record. But there was business to attend to.