Latest news with #KevinFeely
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Re-entry into football's top-tier must only be the beginning for Kildare
Tailteann Cup final: Kildare 1-24 (1-4-16) Limerick 2-19 (2-1-17) Saturday confirmed what we all suspected since the throw-in of the 2025 season. This is not Kildare's level. They are not a Division 3 League outfit. They are not a tier two championship side. Less certain are we, though, as to how much above this level Kildare actually are. Escape from the League's Division 3 was only achieved via scoring difference. Offaly subsequently denied them Division 3 silverware. The one still-Division 2 outfit they ran into all year - Louth - bettered them in the Leinster semi-final. Bettering Limerick on Saturday required a Brian Byrne half-block right on the hooter to prevent an equalising goal. So, while the verdict on this year of rehabilitation came back as expected, the jury remains out on the inroads and impact Kildare can make when returning to football's upper echelons in 2026. Right now, nobody is envisaging a Meath-esque run. Even emulating their Tailteann Cup predecessors, Down, and lasting 12 rounds with a Division 1 outfit in the last 12 of Sam Maguire does not look within their capabilities. The counter-argument to that is the value of Saturday's win and the extent to which it can lift a young side unburdened by Kildare's unfulfilled past. Eight of Saturday's starting team, plus second-half subs Jack McKevitt and Eoin Cully, featured in either the 2022 or '23 All-Ireland U20 final. At the start line of their senior inter-county careers, and with a strong guiding hand from Kevin Feely, Alex Beirne, and Darragh Kirwan, they have delivered the county's first piece of senior silverware since the 2012 Division 2 League crown and first piece of championship silverware since the provincial triumph of 25 years ago. Further scars of the past have been healed and erased. A first pair of back-to-back Croke Park championship wins since 2010. In the intervening 15 years, they'd lost 20 of their 27 summer HQ outings. And so, re-entry into football's high society is only the beginning for this Kildare group, announced Brian Flanagan. Kildare captain Kevin Feely lifts the cup after his side's victory in the Tailteann Cup final match between Kildare and Limerick at Croke Park. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile 'It is year one of what we hope will be four, and maybe more, but winning and lifting silverware was so, so important so you had that in the mentality and in the psyche going forward, because there's much bigger challenges lie ahead for us,' said the year one Kildare boss. 'What this year has done is proven that we deserve to be there in Division 2 and Sam Maguire. We've earned our spot in both. We didn't get it easy. We had to beat the best teams. I felt the winner of the Tailteann Cup was going to come from Westmeath, Offaly, Sligo, Fermanagh. "We beat Westmeath in Leinster, we beat the other three throughout this journey. Dealing with pressure and expectancy is something they've come through. 'People spoke about Croke Park having a bit of a hoodoo over Kildare teams in the last decade or more, so having back-to-back wins here now, for the psyche of the group, can only be a positive going forward. 'We're ambitious. We want to play as many games as we can here, but we know that there's a step up going into year two, but that's something we relish.' The psyche of the group was challenged in front of a swelling Croke Park crowd when Killian Ryan goaled for a two-point Limerick lead on 47 minutes. The Lilywhites had commanded a first-half lead of seven and second-half lead of five. Now they were chasing. Composure won out. A touch of class too. Nothing spectacular, but rather an at times confident execution of the simple when so many others were falling on this front. Limerick got off 11 shots following Ryan's goal. Four white flags was their 36% return. Danny Neville and Barry Coleman's two-point efforts fell short. Darragh Murray's goal drive was blocked. The four remaining opportunities went wide. Kildare, for contrast, engineered 14 scoring opportunities. Their return was 50%. Darragh Kirwan kicked a two-pointer into the breeze to tie matters at 2-15 to 1-18 immediately after the aforementioned Limerick two-point fails. 'It's everything that I would have wanted coming back from soccer,' said former professional-turned Kildare captain Kevin Feely. 'In my 10th or 11th season playing for Kildare, we finally get some silverware.' Scorers for Kildare: D Kirwan (0-8, 2 tps); A Beirne (1-2); B McLoughlin (tp), R Sinkey (0-3 each); C Bolton (tp), K Feely (free), C Dalton (0-2 each); T Gill, D Flynn (0-1 each). Scorers for Limerick: C Fahy, K Ryan (1-1 each); J Ryan (tp free, 0-1 '45), P Nash (free), J Naughton (0-2 frees), T McCarthy (0-3 each); E Rigter (0-2); T Childs, D Neville, R O'Brien (0-1 each). KILDARE: C Burke; R Burke, H O'Neill, B Byrne; T Gill, D Hyland, J McGrath; K Feely, B Gibbons; C Bolton, D Kirwan, C Dalton; R Sinkey, A Beirne, D Flynn. SUBS: J McKevitt for McGrath, B McLoughlin for Gibbons (both 43); E Cully for Flynn (47); M O'Grady for Burke (66). LIMERICK: J Ryan; J Hassett, D O'Doherty, M McCarthy; K Ryan, I Corbett, T McCarthy; T Childs, D O'Hagan; P Maher, C Fahy, D Neville; P Nash, E Rigter, J Naughton. SUBS: B Coleman for T Childs (temporary, 16-18); D Murray for O'Hagan (43); B Coleman for Maher (47); R Childs for Rigter (55); T Ó Siochrú for Corbett (61); R O'Brien for T Childs (66). REFEREE: L Devenney (Mayo).
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Kildare boss Brian Flanagan outlines long-term goal on the back of winning thrilling Tailteann Cup final
BRIAN Flanagan says Kildare's Tailteann Cup success, catapulting them into the 2026 All-Ireland SFC race, is just the beginning. The Lilywhites held off Limerick at the end of a Croke Park roller coaster to secure their first piece of significant silverware since 2012. 2 Captain Kevin Feely had the honour of hoisting the cup 2 Flanagan's men triumphed 2-19 to 1-24 Darragh Kirwan was their main man with 0-8 and was named Man of the Match. Alex Beirne had a big game too with 1-2 while sub Brian McLoughlin had the same sort of impact as he did in the semi-final, blasting three crucial points. There were big displays as well from captain Kevin Feely and Ryan Sinkey as Kildare finally won a trophy at Croke Park. They were beaten there in the Division 3 final earlier this year and had won just eight of their 28 Championship games at Croker since the 2010 All-Ireland semi-final. Read More On GAA Things bottomed out badly for Kildare under former boss Glenn Ryan but Flanagan has picked up the pieces impressively - guiding Kildare back to Division 2 as well as the Sam Maguire Cup race. There were a few nervous moments late on as Limerick got the gap down to three points and chased a goal to force extra-time. But sub Rory O'Brien's shot after the siren had sounded deflected over for a point - instead of the goal required to force extra-time. Flanagan said it's the start of something big for a Kildare group full of former U-20 stars. Most read in GAA Football The Kildare manager said: "We have a really united panel, a really ambitious panel and one that sees this as just the start of something. "This isn't the end by any means of anything - it is just purely the beginning. It is year one of what we hope will be four or maybe more. Watch RTE pundits' contrasting reaction to full-time whistle of Tipperary's epic win over Kilkenny "Winning was so, so important, and lifting silverware, so that you had in your mentality, so you had it in your psyche going forward because there's much bigger challenges that lie ahead for us. "We're going to Division 2 next year and we now have Sam Maguire Cup football nailed on. "What this year has done is proven that we deserve to be there. We've earned our spot in both of them. And we didn't get it easy, we had to beat the best teams." TREATY REGRETS Limerick manager Jimmy Lee insisted that he has no regrets about how things turned out. He said he was simply proud of his side's brave bid to be the first Division 4 team to win the title. But when he looks back on this game he will realise that favourites Kildare were there for the taking. Limerick had plenty of periods of dominance, opening up a 1-3 to 0-3 lead initially and they enjoyed a strong third quarter to lead by two with 20 minutes to go. Even when Kildare hit the afterburners with eight points between the 55th and 64th minutes, the Munster side refused to relent. But they couldn't turn the screw and will rue the 10 wides they kicked, as well as goal chances for Cillian Fahy and Murray late on that were saved. Captain Fahy did at least hit the net early on, helping Limerick open up that three-point lead. They fell into Kildare's slipstream for a spell after that as the Leinster semi-finalists moved 1-10 to 1-3 ahead. Beirne sniped Kildare's goal in the 14th minute after his team won the Limerick kick-out, setting him free to play a clever one-two before netting. Limerick's fightback late in the first-half was impressive and they got it back to a four-point game at the interval, 1-13 to 1-9. PURPLE PATCH Lee's crew were at their best in the third quarter, outscoring Kilare by 1-6 to 0-3 between half-time and the 48th minute. Tony McCarthy scored back-to-back Limerick points, Josh Ryan nailed a two-pointer and Killian Ryan rifled in their second goal - opening up a 2-15 to 1-16 Limerick lead. Their fans dared to dream of a landmark win but they were powerless to prevent that second coming from Kildare in the final 20 minutes. McLoughlin was unfortunate not to start after killing off Fermanagh with five points when he climbed off the bench in the semi-final. And he did something similar again after coming on for Kildare here, scoring a two-pointer and then a single to help wrestle the momentum their way. Kirwan, Colm Dalton and Tommy Gill added vital late points too. Kildare: C Burke; B Byrne, R Burke, H O'Neill; T Gill 0-1, D Hyland, J McGrath; K Feely 0-2, 1f, B Gibbons; C Bolton 0-2, tp, D Kirwan 0-8, 2 tp, C Dalton 0-2; R Sinkey 0-3, A Beirne 1-2, D Flynn 0-1. Subs: J McKevitt for McGrath 43, B McLoughlin 0-3, 1 tp for Gibbons 43, E Cully for Flynn 47, M O'Grady for Burke 66. Limerick: J Ryan 0-3, 1 tpf, 1 45; J Hassett, D O'Doherty, M McCarthy; K Ryan 1-1, I Corbett 0-1, T McCarthy 0-3; T Childs 0-1, D O'Hagan; P Maher, C Fahy 1-1, Neville 0-1; E Rigter 0-2, J Naughton 0-2, 2f, P Nash 0-3, 1f. Subs: B Coleman for Childs 16-20, blood, D Murray for O'Hagan 43, Coleman for Maher 47, R Childs for Rigter 55, T O Siochru for Corbett 61, R O'Brien 0-1 for T Childs 66. Ref: L Devenney (Mayo).
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Kildare pass stern Limerick test to secure Tailteann Cup glory
Tailteann Cup final: Kildare 1-24 (1-4-16) Limerick 2-19 (2-1-17) Rehabilitation complete. Re-entry into football's upper echelons secured. Kildare's 2025 purgatory in the third-tier of the League and Championship's tier-two has had the curtains pulled. But pulled in the most heart-stopping of circumstances. They almost weren't pulled at all. Purgatory almost required another 20 minutes before potential check-out. Kildare's lead was four strong 75 seconds from the hooter. They surely could not be caught. All bets are off in this beautiful new game. James Naughton stroked over a free on the Kildare 13-metre line. It was just their third point since the 51st minute goal that sent them into a two-point lead. Kildare won the ensuing restart. That was that, surely. Hold on, hold on. Brian McLoughlin, who rose white and orange flags upon his introduction, was guilty of throwing possession. A green wave gathered size and speed. The first equalising goal attempt was blocked by Cian Burke. The rebound fell to sub Rory O'Brien. As the hooter sounded, his shot was deflected over the bar by Kildare corner-back Brian Byrne. A first piece of silverware for Kildare in 2025. A first piece of senior silverware since the Division 2 League crown of 2012. Kildare captain Kevin Feely celebrates. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile A 12th victory of 2025. Across the previous three campaigns, their combined total of league and champions wins registered just one higher than this year's restorative tally. Division 2, Sam Maguire, and a county's mood corrected awaits Kildare football in 2026. Possession is everything. Hardly a groundbreaking statement. Possession is nothing if you can't put the ball over the bar. Again, nothing radical in that. Limerick owned the ball off their own restart and the scoreboard early doors. Into a notable breeze, they retained Josh Ryan's first four restarts. Three went short and stuck. Half-back Tony McCarthy and full-forward Emmet Rigter secured their opening two scores from this source. Tommie Childs kicked their third from a Kildare restart spoiled. The latter shoved their advantage out to three, arriving as it did a minute after Cillian Fahy's goal strike. 1-3 to 0-3. Kildare pressed up on Ryan's fourth kickout. The press didn't enjoy immediate success. And then it did. Kildare won five of his next six kickouts. From three behind to seven in front. 1-10 to 1-3. No Limerick score in 12 minutes. Possession, as we said, is everything. Darragh Kirwan bookended the Kildare spell of sustained pressure with a pair of orange flags. The goal belonged to Alex Beirne on 14 minutes. A minute earlier, Colm Dalton attempted to palm in their opening goal. Tony McCarthy repelled. Limerick, in a rush, punted the ball straight to Kevin Feely for a simple Kildare point. The Treaty eventually regained control of their restart and got hands back on the ball. Emmet Rigter ended the scoring wait. It began a five-in-a-row sequence. One of those was a delicious Danny Neville dummy. A second Neville dummy set up Cillian Fahy for a goal opening. 'Keeper Cian Burke proved equal. Neville also had two wides he'll have been disgusted with. He wasn't alone in green in registering wholly avoidable wides late in the half. Kildare, in a carbon copy of Limerick's steadying earlier in the half, eventually sorted out their kickout and eventually got white shirts back on possession. A 15-minute flag drought was addressed. A lead closed to two was redoubled on the run to the break. Dalton, Beirne, and Ryan Sinkey stretched the favourites into a slightly more content interval position. 1-13 to 1-9. The lead was wrestled from them on 51 minutes. Killian Ryan with the goal. 2-15 to 1-16. The green flag proved the end rather than the beginning of Limerick's second-half momentum. Eoin Cully should have had a Lilywhite major in immediate response. Darren O'Dohery derailed the sub. Darragh Kirwan and Alex Beirne were off target. Would another year in football rehab be endured? The radar was rebooted. From the 54th to the 62nd minute, they outgunned their opponents by 0-7 to 0-2. Kirwan, Beirne, Feely, and McLoughlin led. Kildare are back where they've always felt they belonged. They now need to go and make their presence felt. Limerick's rebuild continues. The lack of silverware won't slow it down. SCORERS FOR KILDARE: D Kirwan (0-7, 2 tps); A Beirne (1-2); B McLoughlin (tp), R Sinkey (0-3 each); C Bolton (tp), K Feely (free), C Dalton (0-2 each), T Gill, D Flynn (0-1 each). SCORERS FOR LIMERICK: C Fahy , K Ryan (1-1 each); J Ryan (tp free, 0-1 '45), P Nash (free), J Naughton (0-2 frees), T McCarthy (0-3 each); E Rigter (0-2); T Childs, D Neville R O'Brien (0-1 each). KILDARE: C Burke; R Burke, H O'Neill, B Byrne; T Gill, D Hyland, J McGrath; K Feely, B Gibbons; C Bolton, D Kirwan C Dalton, R Sinkey, A Beirne, D Flynn. SUBS: J McKevitt for McGrath, B McLoughlin for Gibbons (both 43); E Cully for Flynn (47); M O'Grady for Burke (66). LIMERICK: J Ryan; J Hassett, D O'Doherty, M McCarthy; K Ryan, I Corbett, T McCarthy; T Childs, D O'Hagan; P Maher, C Fahy, D Neville; P Nash, E Rigter, J Naughton. SUBS: B Coleman for T Childs (temporary, 16-18); D Murray for O'Hagan (43); B Coleman for Maher (47); R Childs for Rigter (55); T Ó Siochrú for Corbett (61); R O'Brien for T Childs (66). REFEREE: L Devenney (Mayo).
Irish Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- 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."
