The former Manchester United, Celtic and Ireland midfielder brought the curtain down on at Cork’s Live at the Marquee series of shows to rapturous applause and standing ovations from almost 15,000 fans across three nights. The attendance was boosted by hundreds of Celtic fans as they travelled from Glasgow to support the Bhoys in the Super Cup against Cork City. The footballer – in conversation with his biographer Roddy Doyle – was clearly taken aback by the enthusiasm that greeted him. He took to the stage to chants of “Keano” and had to urge the crowd to be quiet to allow the event to start each night. The Mayfield-born star is now one of the UK’s top football pundits, earning critical praise for his no-nonsense commentaries and willingness to criticise teams with the same no-holds-barred approach he brought to his midfield duties in the 1990s and 2000s. He initially agreed to one event for promoter Peter Aiken at Live at the Marquee – but demand was so overwhelming it had to be extended to three. Fans weren’t left disappointed either, as he touched on virtually all issues of interest, including Saipan. Keane (53) said that he stood over his position – and had no regrets over the enormous fallout which resulted in a small army of TV crews, reporters and photographers being camped outside his Manchester home after he jetted home just as the World Cup was about to start. Footage of him walking his dog, Triggs, each evening on the TV news during the Japan-Korea World Cup made the pet a household name. It can’t be any worse next year, can it? Similarly, he didn’t shy away from the current plight of his former club, Manchester United, who finished 15th in the Premier League after their worst season in six decades. “It can’t be any worse next year, can it?” he said. “They have to improve. Some players will leave, some will come in – I think it is crucial they bring in players who know the Premier League. “They have to go back to basics. They need men who will turn up, week in and week out, and put in a shift for Man United. “Man United brought in too many players [over recent years] who just don’t know the Premier League. “The problem for Man United is that they are easy to play against and easy to beat.” The midfielder similarly didn’t pull his punches when it came to selecting players for the “Best Team Roy Keane Ever Played Against”. Only one Premier League player made the cut – Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard. Keane praised Gerrard’s consistency, his never-say-die attitude as evidenced in the 2005 Champions League final when Liverpool fought back from 3-0 down, and his career-long commitment to his club. His best XI were dominated by players from Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus and AC Milan. “They are world class, what else do you say?” Keane said. For the record, his best XI is: Oliver Kahn (Bayern Munich, Germany), Lilian Thuram (Juventus, France), Ronald Koeman (Barcelona, Netherlands), Franco Baresi (AC Milan, Italy), Paolo Maldini (AC Milan, Italy), Didier Deschamps (Juventus, France), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool, England), Gheorghe Hagi (Barcelona, Romania), Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid, France), Hristo Stoichkov (Barcelona, Bulgaria) and Ronaldo (Real Madrid, Brazil). Keane hopes to attend the All-Ireland Hurling Final on Sunday week between Cork and Tipperary – the first time the two old Munster rivals will meet in a Croke Park classic.