Latest news with #Feely
Irish Examiner
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Kevin Feely: Kildare buoyed by Tailteann run after 'terrible' time
Kildare captain Kevin Feely says the Lilywhites have generated badly needed momentum and confidence this year after a 'terrible' few seasons. Kildare have won 11 of their 14 games under new manager Brian Flanagan and are favourites to beat Limerick in tomorrow's Tailteann Cup final, which would secure a pass to the 2026 All-Ireland SFC. This season's games have, admittedly, been at a lower level than Kildare are used to, in Division 3 and the secondary championship. They suffered relegation twice in three seasons under former manager Glenn Ryan, dropping out of Division 1 in 2022 and from Division 2 in 2024. Overall, Kildare played 37 League and Championship games in Ryan's three-year spell, winning just 13 of them. In Championship terms, Ryan's teams contested 16 Championship games and won eight, bowing out of last season's Tailteann Cup at the quarter-final stage. "It was terrible," said Feely when asked how tough that slide was. "It was so far from where we thought we were going to be. Coming off the back of our most recent Leinster final (2022), we thought that would have been the kickstart of a new age for Kildare. "For it to go in a completely different direction was a shock and it was definitely something that was really hard to deal with. Especially as a senior player, having come from a period where it looked like we were fairly successful and getting ready to kick on, for that to turn around the way it did was really difficult. But that's in the past now hopefully." Flanagan managed Kildare U-20 teams to All-Ireland finals in 2022 and 2023, winning the latter. A dozen players from those teams figured straight away for Flanagan in this year's league with five more from the 2018 U-20 winning team. Feely, 32, Daniel Flynn, Mick O'Grady, David Hyland and Niall Kelly are at the other end of the experience spectrum. "It's definitely different," said Feely of the approach this year. "That's always going to happen when you get a complete wipeout of the backroom team. It was nearly a 40 to 50 percent change in the playing group as well. It was a huge change. "That was definitely a start in helping to get rid of that lack of confidence or that low energy feeling that carried over from last year. Certainly the enthusiasm that some of our new players and younger players have brought has definitely helped to hopefully raise the confidence within the group."
Irish Daily Mirror
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
The Kildare footballers' shock at their slide gives way to Tailteann inspiration
Kevin Feely admits it was a shock to Kildare's system to slide so far out of Leinster and All-Ireland championship contention. Ahead of tomorrow's Tailteann Cup final, the Lilywhites' talisman reflects on the unrealistic expectations he had when he returned to the county panel in 2017 after playing soccer for Bohemians and in England for Charlton and Newport. "I came home expecting great things," said the 32-year-old. "Especially off the back of my own age group, Leinster champions at under-21 and that left an all-Ireland behind them, they felt. I was probably a little bit removed from everything being in the UK and didn't really see the challenge that was there. "It (expecting big things) is justified, Kildare are a big football county that are entitled to feel like they should be competing more often than not. We did our best at different stages in early parts of my career but probably never got to the full extent of what I thought we would. Hopefully there's a dawn of a new era now." Feely is eyeing up a Tailteann Cup bounce of the nature that has propelled 2023 winners Meath back into Sam Maguire contention this summer and has seen 2024 champions Down make great strides. The Athy man is hoping Kildare are on a similar upward graph. Despite the disappointment of losing to Louth in the Leinster semi-finals, the Lilywhites skipper believes the panel are a long way from even a few seasons ago - when they believed they were going somewhere but ended up going nowhere. "It was terrible," Feely said. "It was so far from where we thought we were going to be. Coming off the back of our most recent Leinster final in 2021, we thought that would have been the kickstart of a new age for Kildare. "For it to go in a completely different direction was a shock. It was definitely something that was really hard to deal with. Especially as a senior player, having come from a period where it looked like we were fairly successful and getting ready to kick on, for that to turn around the way it did was really difficult. But that's in the past now, hopefully. "It's definitely different. That's always going to happen when you get a complete wipe out of the backroom team - it was nearly a 40-50% change in the playing group as well. That was definitely a start in helping to get rid of that lack of confidence or that low energy feeling that carried over from last year. "Certainly, the enthusiasm that some of our new and younger players have brought has helped to raise the confidence levels. Be it ourselves or Limerick, if they look past this weekend, the reward is so big that you can't help but picture some goals coming into the following year. "But the punishment for losing is still fairly vast. There's no point in getting ahead of ourselves and trying to plan for next year or years down the line when we still have a huge challenge ahead of ourselves this weekend."
RTÉ News
09-07-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Kevin Feely dreaming of trophy with Kildare clock ticking
Kevin Feely is hoping to put an All-Ireland medal in the cabinet this weekend in the knowledge it could be part of building a future for the county. The Lilywhites were runners-up for Sam Maguire in 1998 and have 13 Leinster titles to their name. But outside of the early 20th century, it has been a nearly-men for what too long for Kildare. They hit a low in recent seasons by dropping to Division 3 and successive defeats to Louth in the Leinster Championship. The Tailteann Cup beckoned this year and with it the chance to build some momentum, having already won a league crown. Meath have shown what an impact winning the Tailteann can have by reaching a semi-final with Donegal on Sunday on the big stage, just a year on for lifting the trophy. Kildare v Limerick will be the show-opener, rather than the main event, two hours before the clash of Kerry and Tyrone. Victory for Feely and his team-mates would guarantee a place in the 2026 Sam Maguire, but asked whether lifting a trophy would mean more, the now 32-year-old Feely said it is in his head the clock is ticking on what can be achieved in his own career. "Right now, as you're asking, the All-Ireland medal sounds like something that [appeals more than the Sam Maguire place]," he admitted. "Maybe that's just my age kind of kicking in. "I know that there's not too long left and having an All-Ireland medal as a kind of a reminder of something that we achieved with Kildare is probably the thing I would treasure most." There is the consolation for Kildare that, if Limerick do cause an upset in Saturday's clash at Croke Park, that they will have still another opportunity to contest the All-Ireland series next year. Retaining a Division 2 place would be enough to achieve it, yet this final can put that to bed early doors. The factor in Feely's mind is simply for a changing Kildare team to perform on a big day. "It's completely in our own hands already," he said of their future. "Being in Division 2 means we're in a position that we can guarantee Sam Maguire football regardless of what happened this weekend, so that's a nice place to be in, but at the same time, it's a long way away from now. "So our main focus is on making sure that we kind of express ourselves to the fullest this weekend in Croke Park and produce a performance that we feel like is coming. "It has definitely been a successful year to date. We achieved our number one goal with getting promotion. We played well in Leinster, which was important to us. We've probably gone a couple of years where we haven't expressed ourselves well and just been beaten by a more experienced team who were kind of ready to win Leinster. "Louth were probably a bit further on in their development than us and then we approached the Tailteann Cup with a really positive mindset and have kind of built a nice bit of momentum coming into this weekend." The Wee County's success, as well the Royals', means Kildare have been left behind somewhat within their province. That has been hurtful for Feely and his team-mates, unable to avoid the scenes in Croker as Dublin were finally moved away from top performer. That hope had been for so long that it would be Kildare to step into the breach, rather than other rivals. "It was definitely hard," he explained. "As players we might have said we weren't going to watch the follow-up games, but everyone was glued to that Leinster final, and it was hard to watch two teams that we would feel like we were kind of in and around the same kind of playing level as us going at it for Leinster. "But sometimes you just have to accept that it is where we are. They're a little bit ahead of us, both Louth and Meath, at the moment based on this year. "We've got a lot of work to do to try and get to their level but it was hard to take at the time. At the same time you can't help but be a little bit inspired by how well both teams have done since." Limerick await this weekend, another county benefiting from the second tier competition. Feely understands why Kildare are favourites, while being wary of the strengths of the Munster outfit. "We're one division ahead of Limerick at the moment, but they're probably coming into the game with almost the exact same levels of momentum that we are in terms of coming off the back of promotion and some huge results in the Tailteann Cup. "They're showing a scoring prowess that is nearly unmatched in Tailteann this year. "They've some absolutely elite forwards there that we'll need to manage and do our best to curtail. So we're under no illusions as to how big a challenge it's going to be this weekend. "I think there's a nice sense of confidence building within the group that we're laying the foundations to hopefully kick on in the years to come. "We were starting from a low enough position, so you'd like to think that we were going to turn things around and move on to up this year. "It's definitely been brought on by a lot of the younger players coming in and just bringing a freshness and enthusiasm and playing almost kind of a carefree style of football that I think we were badly in need of this year."
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Jay Feely, former NFL kicker and current broadcaster wants Stephen A. Smith to run for President
Jay Feely suggests Stephen A. Smith should run for president. (Credit: Getty Images0 Former NFL kicker and current Arizona congressional candidate Jay Feely has found himself not only defending his conservative values but also advocating for an unconventional voice from across the aisle—ESPN's Stephen A. Smith . During a candid appearance on NewsNation's The Hill, Feely made headlines by expressing enthusiasm for Smith's potential run for the 2028 presidential election as a Democrat, calling him an 'excellent communicator' with the ability to make a 'gut value connection' with Americans. Stephen A. Smith gets unexpected presidential endorsement from ex-NFL kicker Jay Feely Jay Feely, who recently launched a congressional campaign to replace Rep. Andy Biggs in Arizona's 5th District, believes that American politics is in dire need of individuals who aren't molded by the traditional political establishment. His support for Stephen A. Smith, though they likely hold opposing views, was rooted in his belief in the power of communication and authenticity. 'I respect his talent that he has in communicating, because he is an excellent communicator, and he has a way of making that gut value connection with people,' Feely said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Scarlett Johansson, 40, Shows Off Her Real Size In A New Vacation Photos 33 Bridges Undo 'I would revel in sitting on the opposite side of Stephen A. Smith on a debate stage and us going at it when it comes to political issues and matters that the American people really care about, rather than just sports issues,' he added. His comment wasn't just about admiration—it was a nod to the deeper need for honest, passionate dialogue in today's political climate. While Feely is a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump , he insists that political affiliation is secondary to character and conviction. 'It's really about being able to have a vision, communicate that vision and for American people to believe in you,' he stated. 'I think what the American people want the most, they want transparency, and they want people to be honest about what they believe.' A former NFL journeyman who played for teams like the Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals, Feely transitioned into a media role as a sports analyst after retiring from football. However, it was a near-tragic moment—the attempted assassination of Trump at a campaign rally—that served as the turning point for Feely. It made him rethink his place in American democracy and compelled him to take action. 'What he's trying to do, to get rid of [diversity, equity and inclusion], to change … gender laws and protect our girls, should be applauded by everyone,' Feely said of Trump. 'And you know, I'll be one of those guys that fights for his agenda, believes in his agenda and is an advocate for him.' Feely's campaign emphasizes service over self-interest, echoing his approach during his NFL days. 'That's what I did when I was playing football, trying to use that platform. That's what I'll do when I'm in politics in Congress, is try to represent my constituents and represent this country and try to make us better.' With roots deeply planted in Arizona and a passion for pushing the country forward, Feely is not only shaking up the race with his candidacy but also with his unexpected support for voices like Smith's. Whether across the field or across the aisle, Feely believes that the future of politics lies in sincerity, substance, and the courage to break the mold. Also Read: Stephen A. Smith shuts down hopes of Shedeur Sanders starting for Browns in Week 1
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former NFL kicker Jay Feely says Stephen A. Smith should run for president
Former NFL kicker Jay Feely made the case for Stephen A. Smith to run as a Democrat in the next presidential election. Feely, who launched a congressional bid for an open seat in Arizona, joined NewsNation's 'The Hill' on Wednesday to discuss the Trump administration and future races. Host Blake Burman asked him about political outsider ESPN host Stephen A. Smith, who has thrown around the idea of running in the 2028 election. 'I respect his talent that he has in communicating, because he is an excellent communicator, and he has a way of making that gut value connection with people,' Feely said. 'I would revel in sitting on the opposite side of Stephen A. Smith on a debate stage and us going at it when it comes to political issues and matters that the American people really care about, rather than just sports issues,' he added. Feely was an advocate for non-traditional people entering politics, like Smith, and those who know how to communicate well. 'It's really about being able to have a vision, communicate that vision and for American people to believe in you,' he said. 'I think what the American people want the most, they want transparency, and they want people to be honest about what they believe.' Feely announced his congressional campaign last week. He's running to succeed Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), who is looking to be the state's next governor. Feely played in the NFL for more than 10 years for various teams including the Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals. He later became a sports analyst. He's a supporter of President Trump and said Wednesday that he loves what the president has done during his first 100 days back in office. Feely highlighted the administration's efforts to secure the border and crackdown on immigration, in addition to other measures. 'What he's trying to do, to get rid of [diversity, equity and inclusion], to change … gender laws and protect our girls, should be applauded by everyone,' he said. 'And you know, I'll be one of those guys that fights for his agenda, believes in his agenda and is an advocate for him.' Feely said he was upset by various things happening across the country but it wasn't until Trump was nearly assassinated at a campaign rally last year that he started to think about what more he could do and seriously considered running for office. Feely has lived in Arizona for many years and valued the community in Bigg's 5th Congressional District. 'I wanted to do something that had more meaning, and I felt like running for office was the time now,' he said. He made a case for a political outsider like him to enter the sphere because there must be fewer self-serving politicians and more civil servants. 'That what I've done my whole life. That's what I did when I was playing football, trying to use that platform. That's what I'll do when I'm in politics in Congress, is try to represent my constituents and represent this country and try to make us better,' Feely said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
