Ronan O’Gara passionately defends Roy Keane’s blunt response to very silly suggestion

Ask a cheeky question, expect a cheeky answer

Insult one of Ireland's greatest ever sportspeople, don't expect him to take too kindly to it. Particularly when he has a history of snapping at journalists. Dion Fanning recounted a Roy Keane anecdote on SportsJOE Live sponsored by Screwfix.ie. Ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Wales, it was suggested by a journalist that what the Republic of Ireland needed was someone like Keane to do the dirty work in the game, and put in those strong challenges. Of course, this didn't go down well.

"There was a moment when one journalist suggested that Ireland could do with him against Wales because he could kick Gareth Bale and he kind of reacted and said, 'There was a lot more to my game than kicking players.'"

One man who backed up Keane was Ronan O'Gara. The former Ireland and Munster fly-half believes that Keane was well within his rights to react like he did to such an insulting suggestion.

"I think he's dead right to be like that. Someone suggested to him that we might need Roy Keane to kick (the Welsh). He's dead right to take offence. How dare they? You know what I mean? "You're talking about one of Ireland's greatest ever sportsperson (sic) to ever play the game of football. Soccer, and even for that to be thrown at him, in my book, is way out of order, you know?"