Roy makes ‘cutting comments’ to Irish ladies

Ireland women’s captain Emma Byrne has provided a fascinating insight into Roy Keane’s dressing-room visit following Wednesday’s 3-1 defeat by Russia, proving the Corkman has lost none of the fire that has dominated his playing and managerial career.

The Ireland assistant boss was amongst the 1,503 spectators at Tallaght Stadium to watch the women’s team’s World Cup play-off aspirations take an almighty tumble against their main competitors for second spot in Group One.

Defensive errors blighted the Irish performance, gifting the Russians all their goals in the first half, and Byrne revealed Keane didn’t hold back with criticism when he paid them a visit.

“Roy came into the dressing-room and was honest in his assessment,” said the Arsenal goalkeeper.

“He said we can’t be conceding goals like that at this level and it just wasn’t good enough. His comments were cutting and probably made us feel worse. But I suppose it’s what we needed to hear.

“We have to look at ourselves before blaming anyone else and Roy was only echoing that. Neither myself or the manager Sue Ronan hold back in being harsh on the team.”

Ronan said she was more than happy to step aside and allow the men’s mentor have his say on what went wrong.

“He was right in telling the girls that it was the basics that let them down,” she explained. “But he complimented them for sticking to the task in the second-half.

“Even Roy watching from the stand could notice the difference in professional structures Russia have behind them compared to us.”

Keane has taken a hands-on approach to his job as Martin O’Neill’s assistant since being appointed last November. In January, he visited an Ireland U17 boys training camp held at Everton’s Finn Farm training ground. Keane addressed the group of youngsters back at their hotel afterwards for more than hour, passing on tips from his own experience of trying to map out a career in the game in his teens.

While the senior men’s squad have had a gradual introduction to Keane’s abrasive style in their two brief gatherings to date, the upcoming schedule — which entails four friendly matches over three weeks in-camp from May 22 to June 11 – may change that.