Disunited Ireland as Keane divides country down the middle

A 10-YEAR-OLD Ireland fan, Cian, who had been recovering from an operation to remove a tumour in his leg, was driven in a limo to Lansdowne Road to see his heroes in action in their last home game, against Nigeria, before the World Cup last week. Taken into the home dressing room to meet the players, Jason McAteer gave him his jersey and Ian Harte his boots.

Last Friday, Cian told the listeners of Ireland’s most popular morning radio show, The Gerry Ryan Show, of his dream night, and was asked by the host if the players had signed the jersey. "Yeah, all them - but not Roy Keane," the youngster replied.

Not for a second would anyone endow prophetic abilities upon young Cian, but read Mick McCarthy’s script a week later on: "I’m not bothered one bit about missing out on Keane, sure I have the rest of them." Team Ireland continues like Hamlet without the Prince.

The Irish may have qualified for the World Cup at the expense of Holland, but the Dutch curse appears to have been passed on. The extent to which Keane "dissed" McCarthy was hidden from the public for most of the week. When it was unveiled it could not have been more emphatic had Ian Paisley read the statement aloud wearing an Ireland jersey.

On Friday, Ireland’s Star newspaper wore the nation’s most sensational headline ever. "You’re a F***ing Wanker. Keane’s blast to Mick". De Valera would not be happy.

"I was in the pub last night and it was like there was a death in the family," groaned Vinny Lynam, treasurer of the Republic of Ireland Soccer Supporters’ club.

"It’s like a murder case," observed Ireland’s most celebrated and well-travelled fan, Davy Keogh, of the media coverage. "I’m sick because we need our strongest squad to do anything but I think everyone involved is to blame in some way. But I don’t think Keane ever really got on with Mick. He didn’t turn up for his testimonial did he?" said Keogh.

Team harmony has always been the calling card of any Irish team but now it seems the days of innocence may have passed. One Dubliner in Tallaght’s Square shopping centre spoke of the "60 grand going to his head", a reference to Keane’s exorbitant salary. The FAI, as is often the case, is now a laughing stock of sorts. Ireland’s begrudgers are also suffering, though unfortunately not in any level of silence.

"Who to begrudge," they might cry, "for we can’t not begrudge that Cork thug on sixty grand and now there’s the ‘little men’ in Merrion Square who make all the wrong decisions and turn us into a laughing stock."

Tough choice. The notoriously difficult-to-reach public consensus is, well, 50-50.

McCarthy has been given support from most of the footballers’ unions it seems, with Jack Charlton, John Giles and most of his squad insisting he was right to exert his authority. As have the FAI, for what it is worth. Most of Ireland’s radio callers and pollers agree.

However, even some of his squad are known to have agreed with Keane and certain elements in the Irish media have accused McCarthy of bad management and the FAI of backwardness, to be polite. Eamon Dunphy, a journalist on Today FM and Keane’s official biographer, has also spoken strongly of the midfielder’s punishment for "standing up to the FAI". Now if ever a book was a guaranteed best seller ...

The Evening Herald is tipping McCarthy to leave after the finals and as far as Bookmakers Paddy Power, who always seem to judge the mood well, are concerned, "you can all have your money back". Any fan that fluttered on Ireland winning the group can have a refund, as can any crazy enough to bet on Ireland winning the thing.

It’s not only bookies that’ll be losing out as the marketing gaggle that surrounded Keane also absorbs the shock. The midfielder still adorns the rear of Dublin buses in his "7-up" attire though the company have admitted they are "likely to make some changes in our advertising". Kit-Kat may advise him to take a break.

The episode has also highlighted a widening chasm between Cork and the rest of Ireland. Only two weeks ago Keane was awarded an honorary degree from the NUI in Cork for contributions to sport, the timing of which must now seem extremely ironic. Cork is known as the rebel county and will defend its sons loyally.

John Meade was Cobh Ramblers’ treasurer when the team sold Keane to Nottingham Forest. He is also a member of the growing "Roy Keane Condoners" Association.

"This is badly mismanaged," he claimed. "I don’t believe it should have been sorted in front of the whole team; Mick’s got many friends there. How many points Roy made are wrong?"

The fans, although a few agree with Keane, will still back the team. Dublin taxi driver Chris Brennan believes the shell-shock will pass. "People will get used to it and then next week we’ll all be raring to go. I’m not supporting Roy Keane, I’m supporting Ireland."

And so to the future. Keane’s back in Manchester in his family home where there are rumoured to be some seeds of the "personal" problems he mentioned. He may never wear the green of Ireland again, but it is not because he would not want to, according to Meade. "There’s still a week to go, every effort should be made because Keane would go back, definitely."

Feted by Ireland, loved by Cork, misunderstood by McCarthy. If the tortured soul that is Roy Keane could hold his egotistical urges in check without compromising his on-pitch influence, then surely it would be best for Ireland. If only Carlsberg did World Cup preparations …