Darragh Lenihan flattered by Keane comparison

Getting compared to Roy Keane by his manager Paul Lambert gave Ireland U21 skipper Darragh Lenihan an inkling he was on the right path at Blackburn Rovers.

He will anchor Noel King’s midfield this evening against Italy in today’s European U21 qualifier at the Waterford RSC (6pm, live on Setanta Sports) equipped with the experience of 19 appearances since the turn of the year.

Ireland will need the nous of Lenihan and his midfield partner Jack Byrne, fresh from training with the senior squad, to secure the result they need for their Uefa qualification campaign to get back on track.