Football: BREWING UP A STORM; The FA CUP IRISH WINGER FACES BUSY SUNDAY Burton Sace Gilory has shockin store for Roo & Co.

Byline: Michael SCULLY

KEITH Gilroy is pinching himself at the thought of taking on Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney on Sunday.

Gilroy, 22, has come a long way from his native Sligo Rovers and can't wait to rub shoulders with some of the most well-known names in the Premiership.

He will do so as a Conference player with Burton Albion, and one whose day job is as a community coaching assistant for the club.

For the young winger, this is the moment he has been waiting for. An FA Cup third round clash - at home - against his childhood favourites Manchester United.

Although he is disappointed his hero Roy Keane has left United for Celtic, it's as good as it gets for Gilroy.

"If I am playing left wing, they don't come any bigger than Gary Neville," he admitted.

"He is an England international who has had the best part of 10 years at the top.

"He doesn't know a lot about me and I don't think he'll be doing too much homework. It's a dream come true to play against England international players of that calibre.

"Also, to play against Wayne Rooney would be a dream come true. He's possibly the best player in the world."

Burton, who have another Irish youngster in goalkeeper Saul Deeney on the books as a non-contract professional, have beaten Peterborough and Burscough to get this far.

Gilory has played an influential part in the run to date - and scored two goals in the 4-1 victory over Burscough to set up the meeting with United.

"It's what dreams are made of. For a club like Burton to get through to the third round meant we would make some money, but as soon as we heard it was Man United we couldn't help but get excited," he admitted.

"When the draw was made there was so much pressure on the Burscough game.

"It was lovely to get two goals but the important thing was to set up this lucrative tie against Man United."

Gilroy tried his luck at Middlesbrough as a trainee pro at the age of 16, having made his name quickly at the Showgrounds with Sligo Rovers.

But his time in England has been punctuated by injury and he moved on to Scarborough and Darlington - but he then switched to Nigel Clough's Burton in August, where he has made a big impact.

Now Gilroy is keeping his fingers crossed that lightning strikes twice for Albion on Saturday.

The non-league outfit have already beaten United once this season - when Alex Ferguson took his side to Staffordshire for the opening of their new Pirelli Stadium for a pre-season encounter.

Calry-born Gilroy added: "We have a little edge over them. We played them when the stadium was first opened and won 2-1.

"It was their youth team or second string side, but it was still nice to beat them. That was just a warm-up. I think it' will be a little bit different this time.

"I think Sir Alex Ferguson so will have a strong side out."

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A MAMMOTH TASK: Burton Albion winger Keith Gilroy is due to face Manchester United in the FA Cup on Sunday