Roy Keane cracks a smile when asked if Martin O’Neill is his best friend by kids at press conference

This is not a drill. Nor a photoshop. Roy Keane is smiling.

Ahead of Ireland's vital World Cup qualifier with Wales at the Aviva Stadium on Friday, Keane was somewhat taken aback at the pre-game press conference when confronted by two straight-talking girls from Irish FA's Aviva Soccer Sisters iniative. It was such a (welcome) deviation from the standard to-and-fro of media pack questioning and carefully worded answers that it even caused the former Manchester United man to crack a smile and answer in very relaxed and jocular fashion. First he was asked whether Ireland boss Martin O'Neill was his best friend, and he remained loyal to his pals back home in Cork:

"Is he my best friend? No, probably not! "There are a few lads in Cork who are my best friends but we have a very good working relationship, very professional and I think we get on pretty well with each other because we don't see too much of each other. "It's a big factor but he's one of my best friends, yeah."

Then he was asked what advice he had for the girls, both budding footballers in waiting:

"Train properly, be on time for training, listen to your coaches and when you get a bit older...keep away from the boys!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AI0_M5JgKeQ