On a Saturday afternoon in June 2001, Ireland played Portugal in a World Cup qualifier. Ireland had gone into the game top of the group, but there was the usual mixture of anticipation and dread that accompanied these games.  The game ended 1-1, with the great Luis Figo equalising in the final minutes. But it did not feel like a disappointment for Ireland as they had relied hugely on the performance of one man to keep them in the game.  Roy Keane scored for Ireland that day, but he was also booked, which meant he would miss the next game,…

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