11-year-old Liverpool supporter to play Keane in new film

He’s Keane by name, alright, but the Cork boy who will play a movie version of the young Roy Keane turns out to be a Liverpool fan whose favourite player is Daniel Sturridge.

Hailing from Ballincollig, 11-year-old Craig Keane Harrington – no relation but, rather, what the producers call “a lucky coincidence” — has been picked to play the famous lead character in ‘Rockmount’, a film about a young boy from Cork who is determined to make it as a footballer.

“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever cast,” said director Dave Tynan. “Craig just made it too hard not to pick him — he ticked every box.

“All of our kids can play and act so we’re in good shape. I’m delighted not only with Craig but all of our cast. Every single speaking role is a Cork native and that’s the way to do it. We’ve got a film to make now but this cast gives us the best possible chance to make it work.”

“Pinch yourself” time is how Craig’s father Chris describes the excitement surrounding his son’s success in nabbing the plum role for the 12-minute production.

“For Craig to be playing Roy Keane – the legend — is huge,” he told Cork’s Red FM’s Joe Harrington. “It was an honour, and Craig was delighted to get as far as he did [in the auditions] but to be told he had got the part is unbelievable.”

Craig himself thinks he looks “a little bit” like the young Keano. He has appeared in school plays and finds learning lines for the role “not very hard but not too easy either.”

And when asked what he wants to be when he grows up Craig said he wants to follow in Mr Keane’s footsteps. Shooting for ‘Rockmount’ will take place in Cork, including at Roy’s schoolboy club, and the film will premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh in July.