February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Noel McCabe spotting a diamond in the rough as the Cobh Ramblers youth team were trounced 4-0 up in Fairview Park was one; Brian Clough recognizing a potential superstar in a 20 minute run-out with the Nottingham Forest reserves was another.
Given the events of this past week and a half, it was impossible not to recall an incident off the field that affected the course of Keane’s entire professional career more than any other.
Only Keane and Ferguson know exactly what happened the day twelve summers ago that they first met and played snooker together in a room at the manager’s house. Whatever transpired, it was obviously good. By that point, the Corkman had verbally committed to signing for Blackburn Rovers. Yet, in just a few hours, the Scot impressed him enough to change his mind and he ended up joining United for