Keano in Cobh and Kilcohan

Never trust Wikipedia as a definitive source of facts. If you look Roy Keane up on the online encyclopedia, it will tell you that the Republic of Ireland’s most famous player ever was given his League of Ireland debut by Cobh Ramblers manager Liam McMahon in November 1989. It’s not true. In reality, it was Alfie Hale who first picked Keane two months earlier. ‘Game recognises game’ and it was one legendary footballer who gave another his first chance in senior football.

Cobh had been relegated from the Premier Division in May 1989 and their manager, Hale, had to rebuild his squad that summer. A Cork Examiner article from the 4th of August lists seven new signings including the 17-year-old Keane from Rockmount, but the main excitement was the return of the previous season’s top-scorer – Blues legend Terry Kearns from Youghal. Paul Cashin was still there until rejoining Waterford later that summer and can claim to be the only teammate of Keane’s ever to be on FOUR TIMES his salary………Roy was on £20 a week, Paul on £80.

The Opel League Cup group stages were played off in the space of a week back then as a precursor to the beginning of the league. Ramblers had a rough week, losing all three group games without scoring a goal. The campaign started on Sunday the 13th of August in Buckley Park, Kilkenny. Cobh fell to a 2-0 defeat to hosts Kilkenny City with Roy playing ninety minutes in midfield. 

 

Keane, in his home debut for Cobh, tussles with Cork City's Liam Murphy

That Wednesday evening, his first home appearance came in a tumultuous derby as Ramblers lost 1-0 to Cork City. Cormac Cotter had scored the goal in the first half, but Roy’s first taste of senior level controversy came late in the game. Alfie was absolutely incensed by a horror tackle from Scottish midfielder Mick Conroy on Ken O’Neill. The former Celtic man had already been booked and went unpunished by referee Pat Kelly for what Alfie described as “the nearest thing I have seen to physical assault in a football match”. Hale later called it disgraceful refereeing and admitted he “saw red” and had to let the official know how he felt. 

The manager was sent off for running onto the pitch. So was trainer Paddy ‘Stinger’ Ryan who was “severely warned as regards his future conduct”. Two passionate Waterford football men. Assistant manager and goalkeeper Alex Ludzic immediately picked up the third red card when he deliberately booted the ball out of St Colman’s Park into a neighbouring garden out of frustration. However much effect that drama had on an impressionable teenager’s career and subsequent ‘red mist’ can be left to speculation, but it was the beginning of the end for Alfie in Cobh. 

The final group match followed quickly that Sunday in Kilcohan Park and Keane experienced his first ‘hiding’ in first team football courtesy of Waterford United. The Blues, under Johnny Matthews, lined up Martin Quinlivan, Alan Kelly, Alan Barry, Kevin Kelly, Brian Barry, Pat Arrigan, Paul Cashin, Vinny McCarthy, Mark Browne, Paddy Joyce and Paschal Keane. Joyce headed in powerfully from a Browne cross after just three minutes to give Waterford the lead. 

Young Roy was getting the runaround from Cash and Vinny in midfield so was hooked at half-time after a chastening experience in Kilcohan. Browne scored from a McCarthy corner on 69 minutes and then everyone, including Roy, got to witness a piece of true class from his namesake. With just three minutes remaining, Joyce floated in a cross which Paschal ‘Snackbox’ Keane buried in the net with a spectacular diving header to seal a dominant win. 

The First Division didn’t start any better for Cobh. They opened with a 3-1 loss to Finn Harps in Ballybofey on the 3rd of September with ‘Skippy’ Kearns getting Ramblers’ goal. THAT was Keane’s league debut – never mind Wikipedia! With Hale still suspended, Cobh lost their second game 1-0 at home to Sligo Rovers, for whom player-manager Dermot Keely scored. Again, Roy started, but this was to be his last game under Alfie Hale who resigned on the 12th of September. 

 

International debut against Chile in May 1991

Within a year, Keane was making his Nottingham Forest debut in a surprise start at Anfield on the 28th of August, 1990. Reigning champions Liverpool won 2-0 through goals from Ian Rush and Peter Beardsley, but the 19-year-old Corkman made a good impression. By the end of that season, he was playing in the FA Cup final. Brian Clough’s Forest lost 2-1 after extra time to Tottenham Hotspur, but Paul Gascoigne’s self-inflicted injury created all the headlines. 

Four days later, there was one more big occasion as Keane earned his first Ireland cap in Jack Charlton’s fiftieth game in charge. Roy started in a five-man midfield along with Ray Houghton, Andy Townsend and future Waterford FC managers John Sheridan and Kevin Sheedy in Ireland’s 1-1 friendly draw with Chile at Lansdowne Road. The South Americans took the lead midway through the second half with a strike by Fabián Estay. David Kelly’s 81st minute headed equaliser salvaged a draw that maintained Ireland’s 25-match unbeaten home record. 

That drew a whirlwind two seasons to a close for Keane and, two years later, he joined Manchester United where he would win seven Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the Champions League. Alfie was a great player and manager, but his eye for talent was unrivalled.