Keane managing his obsession

ONCE a year for eight years now, Roy Keane has been popping up in Dublin to put in a long day of helping to promote the Irish Guide Dogs For The Blind.

The event is an annual media milestone which has marked the passing of the seasons for him and us, from playing days with Manchester United and Celtic and the reprise of his international career through the ups and downs of management at first at Sunderland and now Ipswich Town.

With Keane never shy about giving a direct answer to a correct question, these press conferences have become a little like state-of-the-nation addresses, a chance to hear Ireland’s most fascinating sports person offer his thoughts on the issues of day.