CRITICS KEANE ON SAIPAN FILM

A NEW movie about the spectacular falling out between Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy on the eve of the 2002 World Cup is getting rave reviews following its world premiere.

- BY ESTHER MCCARTHY

Saipan was unveiled to audiences for the first time at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival, with initial reviews giving the movie the thumbs-up.

There was praise in particular for Cork actor Eanna Hardwicke, who attended the premiere and plays Keane.

Saipan “takes an episode from 2022 that passed most of the world by but left the Republic of Ireland in bits”, according to movie bible Deadline, which also outlines the film's appeal on the events leading up to Keane's departure from the Irish camp.