Keane: All-Ireland bigger than World Cup final 
By Philip Ham, Ipswich
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
SOCCER legend Roy Keane says the All-Ireland SFC final beats anything his own game can offer after seeing his native Cork collect the Sam Maguire Cup at Croke Park on Sunday.
Keane thoroughly enjoyed his afternoon watching his side’s 0-16 to 0-15 victory over Down.
"I managed to get over,’’ he said. “It was a great day, a great experience. The All-Ireland final will beat any World Cup final or European final, trust me. Not that I’ve been to a World Cup final, but I’ve been to a few Champions League finals.”
The Ipswich Town boss said the GAA is all about playing for your own. "It’s about local pride, that’s what GAA is – people representing their parishes and the streets where they grew up,’’ he said.
"Gaelic football in Ireland is different. They all come from their local parishes. They don’t move clubs when they get fed up. They represent the people they’re brought up with.’’
Keane feels soccer could learn something from the Croke Park crowd.
He explained: "The supporters are brilliant, they mix well, there’s a good atmosphere and they take defeat well. A great lesson for everybody.
"There were 80,000 people there and I think I met most of them!
“I’d recommend getting to an All-Ireland if you can, it’s brilliant.”
The former Ireland skipper says he’s a fan of a variety of sports. He said: “I like going to GAA matches, I’ve been to Formula One, I’ve been to rugby matches. I enjoy the experience of seeing different sporting occasions.”
Keane’s next sporting appointment is work rather than pleasure with his Ipswich side, currently second in the Championship, facing Millwall at the Den in the third round of the Carling Cup this evening.
The former Republic of Ireland skipper also dismissed claims that his dog Triggs had died.
Keane said the reports that Triggs, who first entered the public spotlight when being walked by its owner in the wake of his infamous 2002 World Cup row with Mick McCarthy, is still very much with us. He said: “It’s not true. My dog is still alive.”
The Ipswich boss says that he’s never shocked by what appears about him in the media: “Stories about by dog or Jon Walters, nothing surprises me.”
Keane refused to comment on former Tractor Boys skipper Walters’s weekend claim that he had to send a photo of his vomit to prove he was ill ahead of Ipswich’s Carling Cup tie at Exeter earlier in the season.
Walters left Ipswich for Stoke soon afterwards with Keane claiming the Ireland B international had “had his head turned” and had decided to move on before the clubs had agreed a fee.
A committed Catholic, the ex-Manchester United skipper added that he was disappointed not to have seen the Pope during his recent visit to Britain but hopes to catch up with him on another occasion.
“I would have liked to have seen the Pope. That would be a good experience. I’ll get to Rome soon and will hopefully get to meet him. To get a few contacts!”