RORY FEELY INTERVIEW
By Daire Walsh
Since making the switch to the RSC from previous employers St Patrick’s Athletic, Rory Feely has established himself as a regular in the Waterford FC back-four.
Despite only gaining promotion from the First Division in 2017, seven wins from 10 games (at the time of going print) ensured that the Blues were hot on the heels of Cork City and Dundalk at the summit of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division table.
Having spent much of his childhood in the county before eventually settling in Athy, a switch to the south east was something that immediately appealed to the 21-year-old.
“I would have grown up watching Waterford United play, even been a ball boy a few times down there. When they came in with the offer, the chance to go back down there and experience what it’s like to play in the RSC was always on my mind,” Feely explains.
“In the end, I’m very happy down there and I fit in quite well. Overall, I feel it was a good decision.”
Feely was sidelined for a number of weeks with an ankle injury, but he returned in time to make a late substitute appearance in a 2-1 win against Cork City.
He subsequently returned to the starting line-up for last Friday’s 1-0 defeat to Derry City at the Brandywell. Though it was a disappointing result for the Blues, Feely was relieved to get 90 minutes under his belt.
“It was very good to get my first full 90 minutes back after the ankle. Coming on against Cork was a good help as well. I felt I was ready for a full game, and it went well. There was no issues with it at all. It was a disappointing loss I suppose in the end, considering the run of wins we were going on.
While Feely is revelling in his ‘homecoming’ at Waterford (though he is based in Athy), the DCU student made a return to his old stomping ground last night. Pat’s provided the opposition for Waterford in their sixth away league fixture of the year.
Reflecting on his time at Inchicore ahead of the Monday evening clash, Feely insisted there was no ill feeling upon his departure.
“I didn’t have a bad season at Pat’s. It just ended with us finishing eighth, just outside of the relegation zone. When Waterford came in with the offer, I was obviously very happy to move down there, but there was no bad blood or anything like that.”
By lining out with Pat’s and Waterford, Feely has followed in the footsteps of his older brother Kevin. He was a mainstay in the Bohs defence for a couple of seasons, before representing Charlton Athletic, Carlisle United, AFC Wimbledon and Newport County during a three-year spell in England.
He has since made waves at inter-county level with Kildare, culminating in an All Star nomination at midfield last year. The younger Feely admits the lure of GAA is strong, but also feels he needs to get the most out of his soccer career while he still can.
“It’s probably something would be in my mind, but I’d have to see what way the soccer would take me. If I can get over to England and start enjoying my time a bit more than Kevin did towards the end of his soccer career, I might hopefully be able to make myself a career as a soccer player. I can always come back to the Gaelic and I’ll be always happy to do that.”
With a hectic January schedule completed by upcoming encounters with Bray Wanderers, Cork City (EA Sports Cup), Sligo Rovers and Bohemians, it is no surprise that Feely has a one-track mind approach to his time at Waterford.
Although they aren’t looking too far ahead, the versatile Kildare man believes a top-four finish is well within their grasp.
“We feel we can definitely push for a top three, top four spot and hopefully get into Europe. Again, we’d just be taking every game as it comes and hopefully get as many wins as we can. That will obviously help us to get that top finish,” Feely added.