Football: PURE IRISH HART-BEAT AT FOREST; POINTS TO PONDER

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Byline: FRANK JOHNSTONE

WHEN old Big 'Ead was top of the tree at Forest you had to scout through the undergrowth to unearth a branch of Irish football.

There was, famously, Brian Clough's signing of Roy Keane from Cobh Ramblers in 1990 and the less-heralded purchase of Limerick-born Tommy Gaynor from Doncaster.

But otherwise Irish talent was virtually ignored during Clough's 19-year reign as soccer's sheriff of Nottingham.

These days, however, it's impossible to visit Forest's training ground without tripping over an Irish footballer.

In fact boss David Platt has a complete team of 11 Republic players on his staff at the City Ground. …