HE was a key member of the Republic of Ireland's World Cup 2002 finals squad in Japan and is currently one of the Premiership's top stoppers.

But Dean Kiely still looks back on the night that York City conjured one of the most dazzling annihilations of a star-studded team as one of the highlights of his illustrious career.

And as the goalkeeper recollected, it was also one of his least busy nights clad in the number one City shirt. Even though United's team featured such front-line forces as Brian McClair, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham and Lee Sharpe, his gloves were barely dirtied.

Said Kiely: "It was a comprehensive victory and I remember sitting on the coach as we drove away thinking I'd not had a great deal to do.

"Before the game I'm certain that all of us felt, like I certainly did, that coming from a lower division club you try to showcase your skills, show people what you can do. It was a bigger stage and you wanted to do well.

"We were a decent side anyway and we played excellent football, regardless of who Man U put out. They should have had the beating of us, so to upset them on their own patch was pleasing."

If Kiely was largely a spectator at Old Trafford, he was reduced to that role literally for the return leg at Bootham Crescent after suffering an horrific facial injury in a victory the match before at Hull City.

However, the Salford-born gloves ace was so desperate to witness the second leg first hand he discharged himself from nearby York Hospital on the day of United's visit.

He said: "We had such a strong team spirit that I was not going to miss that tie. I signed myself out of the hospital, walked over the footbridge over the railway and got to Bootham Crescent to savour the return. Man U had a right go at us, but we held out and deservedly won."