Sunderland's Dean Whitehead made his comeback and played an hour, less than 100 days after being told his season was over because of a freak cruciate ligament injury.
Ex-Newcastle striker Andy Cole also made an appearance for 70 minutes.
The match was held to commemorate a decade's service from former Falkirk defender Andy Lawrie, and Keane was true to his pre-match word that he would field a strong side.
Falkirk forced the pace and scored six minutes before the break, and it was similar to James Milner's goal for Newcastle United last weekend.
Left-winger Liam Craig cut in and drove a low shot goalwards which hit Greg Halford's outstretched leg and looped over Darren Ward and into the far corner of his goal.
Sunderland's equaliser came in the 59th minute when Greg Halford fired a low shot into the area from the right and O'Donovan nipped in on the left of the box to sidefoot a rising shot across the keeper.
FALKIRK: Krul (sub Andrews 78), Lawrie (sub Moffatt 79), Holden (sub Scobbie 64), Cregg (sub Coyle 76) , Barr (sub Higdon 60) Milne (sub Aafjes 60), Finnigan (sub Moutinho 46, sub Henry 84), Thomson (sub McKenzie 76), Barrett (sub Allison 60), Latapy (sub Wallner 64), Craig (sub Ross 73).
MACKEMS: Ward, Halford, Varga, Collins, Hartley (sub Hourihane 60), O'Donovan, Whitehead (sub Waghorn 60), Kavanagh (sub Henderson 60), Wallace, Cole (sub Jones 70), Connolly. Subs not used: Higginbotham.
Referee: David Somers.