Keane warms up for bigger tests ahead
THERE may not have been a goal to crown the homecoming but Robbie Keane was pleased to lead LA Galaxy to a narrow victory over Shamrock Rovers yesterday.
After convincing the MLS Cup champions to choose Ireland for a pre-season camp, the Republic of Ireland captain has been acting almost as an ambassador by arranging visits to the Guinness Storehouse and Áras an Uachtaráin.
Yesterday, though, he was back doing what he does best and leading the way on the pitch. Despite being afforded few chances on goal, Keane was a lively presence up front, but it was Mika Vayrynen who got the game’s only goal.
Rovers were never going to be overly gracious hosts, so there was a competitive edge to this friendly game. Yet, the entertainment levels didn’t exactly soar in spite of Keane’s best efforts to turn on the style.
Clearly the star attraction for the bumper crowd, the Rovers faithful playfully teased the 34-year-old with a chant of ‘Who are ya?’ when he stood over a free-kick early on. But that was a reminder of how fondly he is seen in these parts.
The fact that Galaxy were even here was down to Keane, who convinced the club to scrap plans to train at Tottenham Hotspur and pitch up at Gannon Park instead. And they have been delighted that his recommendation has worked out so well.
Galaxy were the better team in the opening half and there were numerous efforts by the visiting players to tee up Keane for a goal that would have brought a big cheer from the spectators.
On 28 minutes, a long pass over the Rovers defence from Brazilian Juninho attempted to set Keane free but Simon Madden got back to intercept.
When Bruce Arena’s side did take the lead – just before the interval – it was trialist Vayrynen who got the goal. A break forward from the midfield ended with the Finnish international bundling the ball into the net.
Rovers used a couple of trialists of their own in French centre-back Max Blanchard and former Hibernian defender Tim Clancy. Both impressed but manager Pat Fenlon will feel that his team, as a whole, still needs some work.
Keane did produce a moment of magic on 62 minutes when a slick backheel set Gyasi Zardes up for a chance, but the US international shot tamely at Barry Murphy.
The introduction of nine Galaxy substitutes didn’t knock them off their rhythm.
In fact, Kenney Walker almost doubled their lead late on when cutting in from the left side before shooting wide.
The crowd finally got a chance to chant Keane’s name when the Galaxy captain was taken off on 90 minutes. He acknowledged their appreciation and trooped off to high fives from the Galaxy coaching staff and substitutes.
The next time that the Irish public may see Keane in action on Irish soil, will be in the Euro 2016 qualifier against Poland at Aviva Stadium.
By that stage, the wily striker will be a little faster, a little fitter, and hungier than ever to score goals. SHAMROCK ROVERS: Murphy; Madden (Clancy h-t), Blanchard (Byrne 64), Webster, D O’Connor; S O’Connor (Waters 59), Fahey, Cregg (McPhail h-t), G Brennan; McCabe (Miele 64), North (Drennan h-t). LA GALAXY: Rowe (Perk 60); Gargan (Dunivant 67), Gonzalez (Meyer h-t), Leonardo, Rogers (Sorto 81); Ishizaki (Villareal 77), Juninho (Garcia 74), Vayrynen (Avras 59), Zardes; Gordon (Maganto 60), Keane (Walker 90). SCORER: Vayrynen 44. REfEREE: Neil Doyle (Dublin).