The Irish Times, The Irish Independent and the Irish Examiner all report an interesting head-to-head between Roy Keane and an Irish journalist at a press conference at the Irish team hotel yesterday.
The unnamed writer asked the Ireland assistant manager about Wednesday's incident between between him and Frank Gillespie and whether Martin O'Neill was having enough of the "distractions" involving Keane.
What followed was an honest exchange of views between the two, which an FAI employee tried to break up more than once. At one stage, Keane accused the journalist of being "not brave enough" to ask Martin O'Neill these questions himself.
What are you asking me for? Go and see him in the lobby. You’re not brave enough. Why don’t you ask him? You’re not brave enough to ask him . . .
The journalist responded that he was brave enough but that access to O'Neill was a problem.
Keane was also asked about Jack Grealish and if the Aston Villa player was close to making a decision regarding his senior international future.
No, not that I’m aware of. I don’t ask him anymore. You don’t want to pester people but, unfortunately, you know, a lot would be coming from Jack’s Dad. We could be waiting a bloody long while, knowing his Dad.
He also said that a "sit-down conversation" with Roberto Martinez and Everton might be required due to Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy's inconsistent availability for international duty.
