'Delighted' Roy may not get chance to play in Croker

ROY KEANE yesterday welcomed as "brilliant" the news that Croke Park has opened its doors to soccer - but then added that he probably won't get to experience the venue as a player.

The Man Utd skipper wasn't so blinkered about his side's FA Cup semi-final that he hadn't heard about the vote to amend Rule 42.

"It's good news," he said, "I'm looking forward to it."

But when asked if he might still be around to play for Ireland at Croker, it became clear that the clock would be against the Cork man who has already hinted that he will retire next summer.

"When is it?" he asked, and upon being informed that Lansdowne Road would not be out of commission until the end of 2006, he responded: "Probably not - I'll go and watch, though."

He added: "I've been in Croke Park and it's a fantastic stadium. I think it's a good move by the GAA."

Newcastle's Donegal-born goalkeeper Shay Given, had an afternoon to forget in Cardiff as they were thumped 4-1, but he was cheered by the developments at Congress. "It's an immense stadium, superb. The sooner we can play there the better. They should start redeveloping Lansdowne Road now!

"I was there watching Donegal in the All-Ireland semi-final two years ago and it's a wonderful arena," he added. "I never got to play gaelic at Croke Park, so it would be nice to play soccer there."

Given's Newcastle and Irish colleague, Andy O' Brien added: "For all of us, the possibility of playing there would be a fantastic opportunity."

Meanwhile rugby legend Mick Galwey also lauded the GAA for opening up Croke Park to other sports.

Galwey, an All-Ireland medal winner with Kerry in 1986, said the decision averted a national sporting disaster and predicted that it would bring many dividends to the GAA.

"Everyone can benefit from this, particularly young people that can go and watch stars in other sports play in a wonderful, world class stadium that is the envy of other countries.

"I started playing GAA in Currow at nine with the U12's and I didn't catch a rugby ball for nearly another eight years after that. I was brought up in a staunch GAA background but in an area of the country where other sports were always a part of your life. I actually played soccer on a GAA pitch. My theory is that we're all basically GAA people. You don't have to have played it to be proud of what they have achieved and of the work they have done for the youth of the country.

"I was there at the All Ireland hurling final last year with Peter Stringer, Frankie Sheahan and Donncha O'Callaghan and they were overwhelmed at the stadium and the atmosphere."

Galwey added: "It is also a great day for Sean Kelly who stuck his neck out, stood by his guns and supported this issue all the way. He was the driving force."