Keane given ovation as United trounce Shels
Saturday, 20 July 2002
Manchester United captain Roy Keane's first public appearance in Ireland since the World Cup debacle ended in glory as he led his side to a comprehensive 5-0 win over eircom League champions Shelbourne and received a glowing reception from the 11,000 packed into Tolka Park. If the Cork man had any doubts about his standing with Irish fans following his public dismissal from Mick McCarthy's squad on the eve of the World Cup, he would have left Dublin with a spring in his step as he was given a heroes welcome by the boisterous crowd.
The match was a sell-out and despite the presence of players like Juan Sebastian Veron, Ryan Giggs and Ruud van Nistelrooy, there was no doubting that most of the 11,000 punters had come mainly to see Keane. He was initially greeted with loud cries of "Keano, Keano" as he led the side out, and was given a standing ovation together with the then familiar "Keano, Keano" when he left the field following a typically industrious afternoon with 22 minutes left with United leading 4-0. However, symptomatic of the bitter division Keane provoked following his controversial stand against McCarthy, a small cluster of fans booed Keane throughout the game.
Ruud van Nistelrooy was deservedly named Man of the Match following his close range hat-trick, and United fans will be relieved to learn that Uruguayan World Cup star Diego Forlan has finally broken his United scoring duck with a well taken goal in the first-half. Substitute Dwight Yorke completed the rout for United late in the game against a Shelbourne side who made six changes at the interval.
United were not flattered by the scoreline as they controlled the game throughout without ever stepping into top gear, but Shelbourne gave a good account of themselves and will feel they could have had one or two themselves but for the lack of quality in the final third of the pitch. Captain Owen Heary led by example from right-back, while Richie Baker's tussle with French World Cup star Mikael Silvestre was one of the features of the opening 45. And 20-year-old substitute Wes Houlihan caught the eye with a stirring performance on the left wing when he was introduced for the second-half, giving England international Phil Neville several nervous moments with his trickery and skill on the ball.
Filed by Shane Murray
- 6.01 News: Joe Stack reports from Tolka Park
