The family of a young Cork boy have spoken of their delight at their son being chosen to play a young Roy Keane in a fictional account of the iconic Manchester Utd and Republic of Ireland midfielder's early years.

Craig Keane Harrington (11), who hails from Ballincollig, Co Cork, has been selected to play the Mayfield-born star in Dave Tynan's Irish Film Board-backed short film of the tough tackling midfielder's early days with his first club, Cork's Rockmount.

According to the Irish Film Board, the film, Rockmount, is “the imaginative tale of a small but determined 11-year-old boy called Roy Keane growing up in 1980s Cork. He needs to get on the starting 11 for his football club, and nothing is going to get in his way.”

Craig's dad Chris Harrington told The Irish Times the family were thrilled when they heard Craig had been selected to play the part of Roy within weeks of going for his first audition for the part.

“There were thousands who went for the part so we really are delighted for Craig to be playing Roy - it was an honour to get as far as he did, but to be told that Craig had got the part is unbelievable because Roy is a legend.”

Earlier, Craig told Cork's Red FM that, although he is a Liverpool fan and Daniel Sturridge is his favourite player, he was thrilled to be chosen to play Keane, who also played with Glasgow Celtic after he left Man Utd.

“I don’t really do a lot of skill but I’m good enough at it,” said Craig, who said he has acted in some school plays as well youth club plays. He revealed he finds learning lines “not very hard but not too easy either”.

Mr Harrington told The Irish Times that filming is due to start at the end of the month and Craig is really looking forward to playing Keane as the crew shoot scenes around Cork, where the young star grew up and became one of the greats of the modern game.