DUBLIN, July 21: Manchester United captain Roy Keane made his first public appearance in his native Ireland on Saturday since being sent home from the World Cup — and was welcomed home like a king.

Keane led out a strong United side for a friendly against Irish champions Shelbourne in Dublin’s Tolka Park, the English team beginning their pre-season campaign with a comfortable 5-0 win.

The match was a sell-out and despite the presence of players like Juan Sebastian Veron, Ryan Giggs and Ruud van Nistelrooy, there was no doubting that most of the 11,000 paying punters had come mainly to see Keane.

Much of the Irish media had expected the Corkman to run out to boos and insults, but the 30 year-old looked relaxed as he smiled and waved when the crowd greeted him with loud cries of “Keano, Keano.”

Keane, who has played 58 times for his country, was thrown out of Ireland’s World Cup squad following a row with coach Mick McCarthy over facilities at the squad’s pre-tournament training camp.—Reuters