IRELAND ASSISTANT BOSS Roy Keane paid tribute to the retiring Kevin Doyle today and warned that there will always be a degree of risk in playing high-level sport.

The Man United legend reserved plenty of praise for Doyle, who scored 14 goals in 64 caps for Ireland.

I was surprised when I read about it,” Keane said. “Obviously, he’s been involved in some of the provisional squads the last few months.

“He’s had an excellent career and seems a real decent guy. It’s sad to see him retire. He’s 34. He’s had a decent innings and hopefully he’s picked the right time to retire.

As everyone else has been saying, your health is your wealth.”

Keane backed Doyle’s decision, after the former Cork City star said via a statement that he was hanging up his boots on medical advice, having suffered from numerous headaches in recent times

I’ve only seen this statement where he’s had one or two problems with concussion. You mentioned the word ‘risks’ to me earlier when you walk on the football pitch. If he’s had concussions over the years and he feels he’s suffering from them, then obviously he feels what’s right for him.

“But it’s part of the game – players picking up injuries and getting knocks. He’s a centre forward, he’s going to be running the channels with centre halves – it’s what you’d expect.

I’m sure he’s knocked a few centre halves over himself and he’s had a few knocks and that’s part of the game. There’s risk involved in everything, particularly sport. It’s a physical game. I think Kevin’s picked the right time to say ‘enough’s enough’. We wish him well, of course.”

When pressed on whether more is needed to be done in terms of research into concussion in order to protect players, Keane added:

I’m sure there is. That’s ongoing (with concussion). But if you’re worried about the physical side of any sport, you’re wary of it, then play chess. It’s part of the game, whether it be hurling, football, American football, the rugby lads, it’s part of the game.

“When you cross that line, there is an element of risk involved. I don’t think it would make a difference to the players playing now. When you cross that line, there’s a (chance) that you might get a knock.

I’m pretty sure there is a lot of research going into it. People question the PFA (Professional Footballers’ Association), this and that, but when you cross that line, there’s a chance you might get hurt. They’re the risks you take. It’s part of the game.”

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