‘Super Six’ for fearless King of the Road Feeley
Daire Feeley with wife Olivia and son Liam following the opening stage of the Rás Tailteann in Boyle earlier this year. Picture: Gerard O'Loughlin
Daire Feeley, winner of the Rás Tailteann in 2022, continues to be the King of the Road in Irish cycling circles.
For the sixth successive year, the County Roscommon native is the national league road race winner and Ireland’s number one ranked cyclist.
The 28-year-old had a brilliant Ras Tailteann, (finishing 4th) and was in pole position entering the final day to claim another sensational victory, only to be caught on the home stretch.
There was a feeling that political issues surfaced among his main competitors who appeared to join forces to prevent Feeley from crossing the line as overall winner.
On the circuit Feeley — who races out of Burren Cycling Club from Clare — is viewed as such a competitive cyclist. Claiming his scalp is viewed as a major achievement by his rivals.
It's an incredible feat by Feely to keep his number one ranking slot for a sixth successive year. It showcases his dedication, his energy and physical ability to maintain such a high intensity during some gruesome spins on tough days when the elements are against him.
His greatest strength is that he has no fear. Tactically, he is a very clever cyclist. Once he spots a gap during a stage, he is gone and, crucially, he has the power to keep the chasing pack at bay.
The Irish racing season runs from April to mid-September, with over 30 races held at venues around the four corners of Ireland. This year, with two races remaining, Feeley can’t be caught. He has enough of a lead on his challengers to maintain pole position.
To date, he has won seven races. However, it's his hunger and drive to secure consistent podium finishes that accumulate the points required to be the highest-ranked cyclist in the country.
On Bank Holiday weekends, he could have three races, which test one's stamina and endurance to keep things going.
It has been an incredible year, on and off the road, for Daire. His baby son Liam was born on St. Stephen’s Day, 2024. He got married to Olivia in June, and has retained his number one spot as Irish champion.
Sadly, he lost his father-in-law, Gerard Roche (RIP), last month.
Daire works with the Roscommon Sport Partnership Board and is one of County Roscommon’s finest athletes on the national stage. He has received great support locally from Dermot Hughes Cars and, of course, his family, especially his father Noel who has been with him since Daire first sat on a bike.
That only means one thing — we know what Santa is bringing Liam for his first Christmas.
Unfortunately, one standout feature from this season’s Roscommon club football championships is the number of one-sided games.
In the senior football championship, Castlerea St. Kevin’s have lost out to Oran and Boyle by a combined tally of 29 points. Elphin have been beaten by St. Brigid’s and Michael Glavey’s by 33 points. On Friday evening, Anthony Cunningham’s men saw off Western Gaels by 17 points.
St. Barry’s are really suffering in the intermediate football championship after heavy defeats against Creggs and Tulsk by a combined total of 41 points. They have only managed to score 0-13 in the two games.
Kilbride are also leaking water, losing out to Strokestown and St. Brigid’s by 47 points in total. Kilmore got thumped by Fuerty on Sunday last by 12 points.
In the Junior A Football Championship, St. Joseph’s were at the mercy of St Croan’s, losing by 26 points. Last Sunday, St. Ronan’s suffered a 21-point defeat at the hands of the championship favourites from Ballintubber/Ballymoe.
County Roscommon is renowned for the competitiveness of their championships, but these types of beatings are not healthy for either the losers or winners.
As Oasis took centre stage in Croke Park last weekend, my Tuesday Teaser performers were also making sweet music.
Can you name the only managers to lead two different counties to All-Ireland SHC finals? It was Davy Fitzgerald with Waterford and Clare, and Liam Cahill with Waterford and Tipperary.
QPR, Frenchpark, was the headline performer on stage, with Liam Dooley, Ballyhaunis; Michael Scally, Ballaghaderreen; Murt Hunt, Ballyhaunis; Jimmy Fallon, Elphin; Mick Fetherston, Dublin; John Croghan, Bundoran; Mary Gilfillan, Kilmore; Pat, Sligo; Paddy Conlon, Taughmaconnell; David Callaghan, Castlerea; Luigi, Ballyhaunis; Paddy Duignan, Castlerea; Mary McCarthy, Holloway; Kevin Flanagan, Dartford; Seán Toolan, Heston, and Michael Kearns, Clapham, proving to be excellent support acts.
This week’s Teaser: Apart from this season, when was the last time the Dublin senior hurlers lasted longer in the championship than the county’s football team?
Answers by e-mail to willieefc@gmail.com or by text to 086 8356227. This week’s Teaser came from Athlone.
One incredible statistic jumped out at me from The Championship in England.
Of the 18 teams that played in the second tier of English football last season and this time around, only one team have the same manager as they did in August 2024. The last man standing is Portsmouth boss John Mousinho.
The Championship is the toughest league in Europe with 46 games. From a managerial point of view, it is now the most brutal.
It is cut-throat compared to the other divisions. Eleven of the 17 teams who started this season in the Premier League have the same manager as 2024. In League One, it's seven out of 17 and ten out of 18 from League Two.
Star pupil: Hat-trick goal heroes Cathal Heneghan (Michael Glaveys) and Tadhg Lyons (Fuerty) who bagged championship trebles on Sunday.
Crucial win for: St. Michael’s who went into the lion’s den in Creggs and came away with a famous victory in the IFC. It should serve as a huge boost to James Martin’s side.
Much do better: Castlerea St. Kevin’s have conceded 6-42 in their opening two games in the Roscommon SFC.
Spot of bother: Westmeath have been left in the lurch after Dermot McCabe took up the vacant managerial position in his native Cavan.
Weekend highlight: I really enjoyed the Páadraig Pearses v Clann na nGael SFC clash last Friday evening — cracking game, great atmosphere and a contest that went right to the wire.
What a cracker: The second instalment of Shelbourne and Linfield in the Europa Conference League Play-Off — the prize of group stages football in Europe should ensure two tasty legs north and south of the border.
“Mondays offer new beginnings 52 times a year.”
For the fourth season in succession, the number of new managers that will be on the sideline for the start of the 2026 Allianz Football League has moved into double figures.
Like sheep out a gap, hometown appointments on the senior intercounty football managerial wheel are as popular as Oasis tickets, with Eamonn O’Hara/Dessie Sloyan (Sligo), Ger Brennan (Dublin), Andy Moran (Mayo), Dermot McCabe (Cavan), Paul Madden (Clare) and Mark Dowd (Roscommon) handed the keys to the kingdom in their native counties.
