Liam Buckley hails Cork City's hat-trick hero Ruairí Keating after emotional night

A tearful Ruairí Keating departed Turner’s Cross on Friday night with the match ball and a fitting tribute to his late father.

It was seven weeks ago that Ciarán Keating tragically passed away in a car crash while driving to watch his son play away to Sligo Rovers.

Ruairí marked the return fixture against the Westerners by flipping that 3-0 result with an emotional hat-trick, his first for Cork City.

He celebrated the third goal by removing his jersey, holding the ‘Keating’ name up to the ecstatic Shed End supporters. He then placed it on the endline, kneeled in front of it, and pointed to the heavens.

He left the pitch at full-time in tears as he was patted on the back by club owner Dermot Usher and cheered off by the Shed. Afterwards, he took the time to sign autographs and pose for photos with fans.

“I'm just delighted for him overall with what's gone on,” said City interim manager Liam Buckley.

“The tragic accident happened when we were up in Sligo and he was quite emotional about it. I think all the lads appreciated the whole situation.

“It just marries into a great victory for us. All the lads were over the moon for him.

“He's quite emotional about it but feet on the ground tomorrow and we'll plan for a couple of weeks (against Wexford in an FAI Cup quarter-final).” Buckley, a twice-capped Irish striker in his playing days, paid tribute to Keating’s clinical finishing with his treble coming off left and right, and from the spot.

It takes him onto 11 League goals this season, one behind Premier Division top scorer Chris Forrester.

“Three superb goals; one was a penalty but the other two, he worked them well and finished well.

“Ironically, we were only talking about it in training yesterday. As a forward, sometimes