“He’s punctual, he hates being late.” Another nods. “It’s starting bang on at eight, I’d be shocked if he was late!”
This is no standard Marquee gig. It’s Roy Keane’s homecoming, and when Keano tells you to be in your seat by 8pm, you’d better be in your seat.
Ticketholders, whether local Corkonians or sporting heroes such as Olympic gold medal boxer Kellie Harrington, are all seated by 8pm and Keano follows a fashionable 12 minutes later shoulder to shoulder with Roddy Doyle.
Luckily, Roy Keane‘s hometown audience is well versed in the mercurial Mayfield man’s ways so when he appears there is thunderous applause from an awaiting and appreciative Live at the Marquee audience that no doubt echoes across the river near his childhood home in Ballinderry Park.
His chat with Dublin author Doyle touches upon all aspects of his life, from his Cork roots and Mayfield pride to his infamous Saipan clash with Mick McCarthy.
It is a candid evening of conversation and Keane is not shy about his opinion, taking digs at players he doesn’t rate, slagging off those he does like, and admitting a very rare thing for a Cork man: “I can tolerate Dublin, I suppose…”
