A new film revisits the infamous 2002 World Cup training camp row between Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy, turning the incident into a state-of-the-nation psychodrama. Directed by Glenn Leyburn and Lisa Barros D'Sa, the movie stars Éanna Hardwicke as Keane and Steve Coogan as McCarthy, capturing the clash of egos that convulsed Ireland.
The story unfolds on the Pacific island of Saipan, where Keane stormed out of Ireland's chaotic training camp and flew home after a colossal row with manager McCarthy. The film explores whether Keane was a spoiled Manchester United star or a patriot demanding higher standards, while McCarthy, English-born but Irish-identified, struggled to manage his mercurial player.
Hardwicke conveys Keane's tense, opaque quality and his contempt for McCarthy's hero-worship of former manager Jack Charlton, an Englishman. Notably, Keane listens to the terse advice of Alex Ferguson, a Scot. The film also highlights the English-Irish divide, with Keane questioning McCarthy's credentials.
While the film is capably told and well-acted, it feels like a theatrical chamber piece, focusing on the two male egos but lacking the broader angst felt back home. It leaves viewers wondering if Keane's walkout was a principled stand or an attempt to distance himself from inevitable failure, especially as Ireland's subsequent performance made him look absurd.
