Who's that beardless stranger? Oh wait, it's Roy Keane!

A SAGA THAT has gripped the nation (or at least, TheScore.ie office) came to an unexpected end tonight.

The status of Roy Keane’s much-discussed and highly divisive beard has attracted almost as much attention as his newly released autobiography, but presumably fed up with answering questions about his unique look, the Corkonian today made a reportedly amicable decision to part ways with his facial hair.

Following this shock development, our attempts to contact several beard connoisseurs this evening proved unsuccessful, as they were presumably too distraught to talk.

Oh well, we’ll always have the memories!

Source: PA Wire/Press Association Images

We’ll Leave It There So: Ireland to give 7s a go, Dunphy praises Keane and the rest of the day’s sport>

QUIZ: How big a Republic of Ireland fan are you?>