On Wednesday night, Irish TV audiences were treated to The Overlap on Tour, as Roy Keane, Gary Neville, and Jamie Carragher's recent tour of Ireland was documented on Sky.
The trio's famous Overlap live show came to the 3Arena back in March, playing a sold out crowd with a few surprises for those in attendance on the night.
In the lead up to the live show in Dublin, photos were shared of Roy Keane bringing his sidekicks on a tour of some of his old haunts in his home county of Cork, including his old clubs Rockmount and Cobh Ramblers.
All of those adventures in the Rebel County were showcased in Wednesday's TV broadcast, and Keano's love for his home county was the biggest thing that came through during a thoroughly enjoyable hour of TV.
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Roy Keane: Irish legend's love for Cork shines through in The Overlap On Tour
The opening moments of The Overlap on Tour at the 3Arena see Roy Keane welcomed "home" by host Kelly Cates - before he quickly notes that Dublin is not his home. It's Cork.
Of course, Keane was speaking in jest, but the hour of TV that followed truly showcased the ex-Manchester United captain's affection for his home town.
Keano is back in Cork! 🇮🇪
The Overlap on Tour is LIVE on Sky Max tonight at 9PM! 📺
Brought to you by @SkyBet #ad 🤝 pic.twitter.com/tcahcoFEau— The Overlap (@WeAreTheOverlap) June 14, 2023
Keane's first stop off in his home county was at the Blarney Stone. When asked a multitude of questions by Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher about the site, Keane was quick to remind them he did not own the place, before he and Neville responded with disgust at the Liverpool flag perched atop the iconic castle.
Roy’s reaction when he spotted a Liverpool flag flying over Blarney Castle 🚩
You won’t want to miss ‘The Overlap On Tour’ Wednesday 14th June on Sky Max pic.twitter.com/NqAeZLl9se— Sky Ireland (@SkyIreland) June 13, 2023
When they got to the top of the castle, Keane pointed out his brother's home across the hill - defending the houses that had been built there after some questioning comments from Neville.
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He and Carragher would then poke fun at Neville as he kissed the Blarney Stone, pretending to take away the ex-United man's safety net.
Tune in at 9pm on Sky Max channel 113, to see me @GNev2 and Roy hit up Dublin for The Overlap on Tour!
But first, we swing-by Roy’s hometown of Cork to tackle some challenges and visit his formative football clubs.@skytv pic.twitter.com/VpyHCZjBL1— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) June 14, 2023
As part of their trip to Cork, the Overlap crew visited Keane's first two football clubs at Rockmount and Cobh Ramblers.
Though it was mostly an hour of comedy, there was some truly touching material in the sections at Keane's two childhood clubs. Not only did Keane's affection for his home come through, but his career-long desire to make the people of Cork proud, was quietly summed up in this line as Neville and Carragher signed Rockmount jerseys for an upcoming auction:
This is a nice treat for them. They've got huge respect for Gary and what Jamie's done in the game. And, maybe, a little bit of respect for me, who knows.
My dream was to get to England and play professional football. When I was 18, 19, I got a few breaks. That's why I never forget the little bit of luck I had along the way.
The group then moved on to Cobh, with Keane in the driving seat waxing lyrical about the city of Cork:
It's ne of the greatest cities in the world - I mean that. Football, hurling, boxing, rugby, darts - maybe that's the problem there's so much competition!
And, as they approached the home of the Ramblers, Keane reminisced on some of the formative experiences he had at their clubhouse:
You'll have to have a pint in the bar here lads at Cobh, where I put all my wages!
I started to learn about drinking after games in the men's team.
These lads would be drinking 8, 9, 10 pints, and I'd be trying to keep up with them.
Just imagine how good we could have been if we didn't drink?!
Keane has the freedom of the city of Cork, and was made an honorary doctor of UCC back in 2002. It is clear not only how fondly he is thought of in Cork, but how much love he holds for the county in which he was raised.
He proudly pointed out the church in which he got married - and, when Neville clarified who it was that he had married there, Keane replied, "Well, I've only been married once!"
When the Overlap trio arrived at Cobh Ramblers, Keane was reunited with "Handsome Bob," with whom he played during his two years at the club, and the group attempted a crossbar challenge.
Handsome Bob’s Crossbar Magic! 🎯pic.twitter.com/im74W2zq2i
— The Overlap (@WeAreTheOverlap) June 14, 2023
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All that was left in Cork was to board the train to return to Dublin for the live show in the 3Arena. Keane, Neville, and Carragher travelled by train and, aboard the Iarnród Éireann service, Keane waxed lyrical about the ability of Jimmy Barry Murphy as one of the greatest hurlers of all-time, a sentiment we've heard him share previously on Monday Night Football.
Jimmy Barry Murphy joined the trio, along with TJ Reid, in Croke Park for a hurling lesson, and said that Keane should expect to school the other two, due to his Cork roots. He did not disappoint.
The final highlight saw Handsome Bob return as an audience member at the 3Arena, with Keane clearly thrilled to see his old friend once again.
Who’s more of an icon? Handsome Bob or the legendary Roy Keane? 😅
Watch The Overlap on Tour on Sky On Demand and NOW TV! 📺
Brought to you by @SkyBet #ad 🤝 pic.twitter.com/LDvyS32aSX— The Overlap (@WeAreTheOverlap) June 15, 2023
The Overlap on Tour was an extremely enjoyable hour of TV, but the highlight was undoubtedly the obvious affection that poured through from Roy Keane for his home county, and the manner in which it rubbed off on his two sidekicks.
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