So long Robbie, and thank you for the memories

Prepared statements “on the occasion of” can often come across as bland, off-the-peg affairs, a poor substitute for facial expression and the spoken word.

That was most certainly not the case yesterday on the occasion of Robbie Keane’s announcement that he is to hang up his Irish shooting boots after 18 years as man and boy in the service of the green shirt.

Running to more than 1,000 words, this was more like a cri de coeur, as the 36-year-old Keane, a double record-holder for Ireland with 67 goals in 145 appearances, paid sincere and sometimes emotional tribute to family, fans, team mates and managers, and prepared himself, as best he can, for a final fling against Oman at the Aviva Stadium next Wednesday.