Roy Keane says Irish defending to blame, not Henry

Nov 20, 2009 - 4:08 PM IPSWICH, England(AP) -- Former Ireland captain Roy Keane has blamed the national team's poor defending rather than Thierry Henry's hand ball for the Irish failing to qualify for the World Cup.

France striker Henry has been condemned for a deliberate hand ball that set up his team's tying goal in a qualifying draw that sent the French rather than the Irish to next year's World Cup.

Ipswich manager Keane said Friday the Irish defenders should never have let the ball get to Henry and goalkeeper Shay Given should have done better to stop it from getting to William Gallas to head home.