Patient Katie Keane eyes more silverware and the Leaving Cert before taking new path
In attendance, from left, Rachel Graham of Shelbourne, Orlaith O'Mahony of Cork City, Sharon Lancaster, Marketing Manager, Frasers Group, on behalf of Sports Direct, Republic of Ireland international Jamie Finn, Ciara Murray, Head of Marketing, Sports Direct, Katie Keane of Athlone Town and Eimear Lafferty of Sligo Rovers after the Sports Direct Women's FAI Cup semi-final draw at the FAI Headquarters in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
After Katie Taylor and Katie McCabe follows Katie Keane, another player capable of influencing the Irish women’s football chronicles.
Taylor’s screamer in 2007 against Hungary won a Euro qualifier before she won an Olympic gold while McCabe captained the country to its first Women’s World Cup last year.
Keane has only turned 18 but proven she possesses the goalkeeping prowess to become Ireland’s No 1 in time.
Her reputation was already rising before her heroics at Euro U19s final in July. She succeeded, where many before and since failed, by keeping the three-in-row champions Spain at bay.
That scoreless draw in Lithuania came just days after Ireland led the mighty Germany. They eventually lost, as they did to a Dutch side who met the Spanish in the final, but demand for Keane soon spread from UK clubs across Europe.
She’s prepared to play the patient game, by completing his Leaving Cert next summer before embarking on a cross-channel career.
Instinct has served her well in the past, quitting double holders Shelbourne for Athlone Town last year. The enjoyment of first-team football outweighed the trek from her native Ratoath in Co Meath to the Midlands and it concluded with a trophy. Keane haunted her former teammates by starring in the FAI Cup final win over the Reds.
Successive Cup finals are in her sights when she attempts to repel Sligo Rovers in Sunday’s top-versus-bottom semi-final at the Showgrounds (3pm). It’s the type of competitive fare that’ll prepare her for what she’ll face when inevitable emigration occurs.
There’s also the precarious nature of women’s football to factor in, not yet at the level of the men’s game where a couple of years’ earnings are life-changing.
“Players can go away at 18 but I've made it clear that I’m finishing my education,” said the tall stopper about her career pathway.
“My Leaving Cert is vitally important because you need a fall-back plan. Chloe Mustaki, the former Shelbourne player, snapped her ankle but has her work behind her in case anything happened. We’re all hoping she will make a full recovery and it’s almost certain that she will.
“To be honest, if I wanted to go away, I wouldn’t do so without an education because that would mean you are sitting around, bored and on your own.
“This does give you something to concentrate on and keeps your mind focused. Especially as a goalkeeper, you need that.”
Form suggests Athlone will make their third cup final in a row but the man who led them to their first, Tommy Hewitt, is now in charge of Sligo.
“Every team has that chance because it’s a kick of a ball that can change a day,” she noted.
“To come in last year and help make a difference in winning this trophy was so special. The ambition for us at Athlone is more trophies this year but there’s not a lot between all of the teams.”
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