Shane Long: The making of a tip-top striker

By Roy Keane’s exacting standards, you could say he was almost gushing in his praise for Shane Long earlier this week.

Keane declared that the 29-year-old is not only hitting a career peak as a striker for club and country but that, with Robbie Keane now embarking on his last lap in the game, Long is in the perfect place to take over as the main man for goals in the green shirt.

With those encouraging words ringing in his ears, you might have expected Long to graciously reciprocate when we offered him the opportunity at Fota Island yesterday.