Robbie at 40 takes the plaudits

AFTER heading home the winner in the GSP Stadium in Nicosia on Saturday night, Irish captain Robbie Keane celebrated with four fingers raised on one hand and a zero formed with the finger and thumb of the other.

Ireland’s all-time leading scorer might have just hit the 40 mark but it’s the five he has grabbed for his country in World Cup Group 8 which were uppermost in the minds of his relieved and grateful team-mates as, in the game’s aftermath, they queued up to pay tribute to the Spurs striker.

“He’s been fantastic in this campaign,” said his fellow Tallaght man, Richard Dunne. “Every goal has been an important one. He’s just been great, a real leader for the side and hopefully his goals will take us all the way.”