Boycottballs

Last week we were mourning the loss of Kevin Keegan from football management and, more importantly, from our quotes of the week…

Last week we were mourning the loss of Kevin Keegan from football management and, more importantly, from our quotes of the week section, a lament that caught the eye of Jim Egan who, bless him, took pity on us. "Hello Planet Football, I am writing to you from Bishkek, in the Kyrgyz Republic - before you go running to your atlas, it's in Central Asia," he said in his e-mail.

Jim (Cork-born but a long time Stillorgan resident before he headed east) keeps in touch with sporty happenings around these parts through the Internet, but is also an avid viewer of ESPN's cricket coverage. "I realise that the following quotes have nothing to do with football, but they might help fill the gap until Kev takes over at Southampton."

"I was watching the fourth Test between the West Indies and South Africa on ESPN when Geoffrey Boycott (above) came up with a few beauties. When Chanderpaul came in to bat, Boycott described him as `a grafter and a worker who will stay in for a long time, if you don't get him out'. Then he said of someone else, `he's a good player, as long as he's playing well'. What can I say? Other than: the spirit of Keegan is alive and well, even if it is hidden in the brain of Geoffrey Boycott." First-class. Thank you kindly, Jim Egan, you're a star.

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan is a sports writer with The Irish Times