Keane buoyed by calmness in Irish camp

There was a time when you could all but see the steam rising out of Robbie Keane’s ears at pre-match press conferences.

That was back when Steve Staunton was in charge and Ireland lurched from crisis to comedy.

These days, that edge has been curbed. The tetchiness that accompanied his replies five or six years ago has been replaced by a more conciliatory demeanour as well as a surfeit of smiles and laughter as Euro 2012 looms ever larger.