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The Irish Sun

Divided over Saipan…again our writers debate footie film & whether Ireland needs reminding of sporting ‘civil war'

THE movie isn't even out yet, but it's already splitting opinion. A 76-second teaser trailer for the upcoming 5 Republic of Ireland captain Roy Keane walks past manager Mick McCarthy during squad training Credit: Sportsfile 5 Eanna Hardwicke has been cast as Roy Keane Credit: Wildcard 5 Mick McCarthy during a press conference to announce the departure from the squad of captain Roy Keane Credit: Sportsfile The trailer showcases the remote island in the Pacific Ocean that went down in Irish The film is described as 'the definitive account of one of the most fractious fallings-out in the ­history of Here, Associate Sports Editor Vincent Whelan and Senior Reporter Michael Doyle give their take on whether Ireland needed to be reminded about our sporting 'civil war'. FOR - VINCENT WHELAN 5 Vincent Whelan said that Saipan film brings a chance for fans to be part of footie history Credit: Collect image through journalist SORRY if this offends you, reader . . . but a lot of us weren't even alive in 2002. The 23-year gap between the real thing and it being committed to the big screen means most people under 30 have barely any recollection of To paraphrase Tommie Gorman's interview with We never got to witness the frenzied debates taking over current affairs We never got to argue around the water cooler about whether we were 'Team Roy' or 'Team Mick'. This summer's release will finally give us a chance to feel a part of the most infamous episode in Irish footballing history . . . and also a World Cup! Jason McAteer jokes only time he ever voted was in Saipan and reveals how many Ireland teammates wanted Roy Keane back Frankly, as a young(ish) Irish sports fanatic I'd be happy handing over the price of a cinema ticket to witness any kind of But on top of that desperation to have some experience of it, there are legitimate grounds for optimism around it actually turning out to be good. For starters, you've got Anyone who'd be dubious about a largely comic actor taking on a weighty role clearly hasn't seen him in the likes of Philomena or Stan & Ollie. It's a chance for fans to be part of footie history". Vincent Whelan Both parts earned him Bafta nominations in the Best Actor category. And while Eanna Hardwicke is not as much of a household name, the 28-year-old is a star on the rise. He's been in And he was named a Screen International Rising Star in the film magazine's first Irish edition. For all of those legitimate acting chops, perhaps most crucially of all is he's Irish and he's from So that immediately reduces the risk of a Christopher Walken in Wild Mountain Thyme or Julia Roberts in Michael Collins level of accent butchering. And finally, Saipan's production company, Fine Point Films, were behind the globally-acclaimed Kneecap movie. AGAINST - MICHAEL DOYLE 5 Michael Doyle said that the main issue with the Saipan trailer is the tone Credit: Marc O'Sullivan - The Sun Dublin AH Saipan — will we ever stop talking about it? It's been the subject of books, a musical, thousands of I have no doubt the man behind Alan Partridge will do a fantastic job playing Mick McCarthy. But my main issue with the trailer for Saipan is the tone. It looks like the makers are about to recreate the most divisive moment in the history of Irish sport as some kind of psychological thriller — when in reality it just couldn't have been more farcical. Now, if Coogan was to play Mick being portrayed by his much-loved alter-ego, then we'd all be dying to watch it. Arthur Matthews probably got it right with his spoof musical I Keano, which saw the Irish manager and It was hilarious, capturing the mood of the fiasco perfectly for everyone to just laugh at how bonkers it all really was. So how can a dark, serious tale of footie egos squaring off on a remote Pacific island just weeks before a World Cup do justice to what really went on? Impossible to get excited if you lived through it". Michael Doyle I've been working in the media long enough to remember the chaos in newsrooms when Keane walked out. And the satire it created weeks later. Everything from the skipper walking his dog Triggs in the glare of a hundred flashing bulbs to Tommie Gorman's iconic interview with the midfield icon to a 'tired and ­emotional' Eamon Dunphy ranting on Apres Match couldn't stop licking their lips. In hindsight, it was comedy and us journalists lapped it up. Maybe a new generation of football and movie fans will get excited by seeing this version of McCarthy v Keane. But for those of us who lived it, it's impossible to get excited by this new film — and the trailer is genuinely hard to watch. Maybe they should have let