Eamonn O’Keefe: How Cork City missed out on Roy Keane but cashed in on Big Jack

In Saturday's first part of this extract from former Republic of Ireland international Eamonn O'Keefe's autobiography, I Only Wanted to Play Football, we heard how O'Keefe joined Cork City as manager for the 1987-88 League of Ireland campaign, soon winning the club's first national trophy, the League Cup. O'Keefe was also asked to sit on a national committee formed with the intention of raising the standards of the game in Ireland and had taken on responsibility for City's commercial affairs. 

Roy Keane pictured in his Cobh Ramblers days.

THE Football Association of Ireland needed to be more professional and use its power more effectively in the running of the Leagues - they should be seen to be operating strictly in line with legislation and protocol. 

As one example, it was not uncommon for teams to backdate contracts... I once signed a player just after the deadline and went to see Chris Herlihy, the Cork City chairman.