At about 3.30 am this morning Irish time, the full time whistle was blowing in MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and the Republic of Ireland quickly had to focus on Uruguay in the Aviva on Sunday, but it seems that wasn’t enough football for Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane.
The pair have been pictured in attendance at the crunch clash between Dundalk and Cork City in Oriel Park tonight which kicked off roughly 16 hours after the friendly in the States would have finished. Their presence begs a few questions:
1) Did Ireland's defeat to Mexico last night actually happen, or was it a figment of our imagination? Hopefully the latter.
2) Did Dundalk use some of their Europa League money to install Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane holograms at Oriel in an attempt to raise player performance? And if so, can these holograms play Coachella?
3) Will they bundle Seán Maguire into the back of a taxi for Uruguay on Sunday?
In any case, fair balls to them for making the effort, although it might well be argued that it is their duty to attend what is the biggest fixture in the League of Ireland these days, particularly when two members of their squad partook in such fixtures as recently as a few months ago.
Just saw Roy Keane and Martin O'Neill in the crowd at Oriel Park, in the home section! Shouldn't you be in the away end Roy? 😂
— Brendan_Richardson (@Brendan_R2) June 2, 2017
Perhaps not many would have questioned them had they opted not to attend given the geographical circumstances, but it appears they just couldn't resist that special atmosphere on a League of Ireland Friday night. Either that or they couldn't change their VPNs and access RTÉ 2 live from across the Atlantic.
Well worked goal by Cork City and well finished by Sean Maguire. Martin O'Neill in attendance. Will probably get a call up when he departs.
— Donnacha Curtin (@Le_Dooner) June 2, 2017
