[12] The next season, after Newell's departure, Keane was frozen out of the first-team by new manager Kevin Blackwell, who preferred to play his own new signing Richard Jackson.

[16] Some solace could be found as Luton beat Scunthorpe United 3–2 in the 2009 Football League Trophy final at Wembley Stadium, with Keane producing a superb performance in midfield.

Then-Luton manager Richard Money stated the club was in negotiations with Keane over a new contract regardless of his transfer status, calling him a "talisman" to Luton.

[20] On 9 February 2010, Keane scored direct from a corner kick in the last minute of the game, his first goal in over two years, to earn Luton a dramatic 2–1 win against then-league leaders Oxford United.

[23] Keane played the full 120 minutes of the 2011 Conference Premier play-off final against AFC Wimbledon in May 2011; a game that saw Luton miss out on a return to the Football League by losing the penalty shoot-out.

[25] Defensive injuries meant Keane was moved back into defence at the beginning of the 2011–12 season, with two performances described by manager Gary Brabin as "outstanding".

On 7 June 2012, it was announced that he was to join League One club Preston North End, then managed by Graham Westley, once his Luton contract had finished.

[37] On 27 May 2015, it was announced that Keane had signed a two-year contract with League Two club Cambridge United, linking up with former Luton manager Richard Money.

[43] Keane finished his loan spell with 17 appearances, before joining Rochdale permanently on a one-and-a-half-year contract a day later, after leaving Cambridge by mutual consent.

[45] In August 2021, after three years out from football, Keane joined tenth tier Spartan South Midlands Division Two side The 61 FC (Luton).

[47] In October 2005, Keane received his first call-up to the Republic of Ireland under-21 team for a 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification match against Cyprus, in which he was named in the starting lineup to make his debut.