Declan O’Sullivan announces his retirement from Intercounty Football Declan O’Sullivan, who has announced his retirement from inter-county scene, does so having won every honour available to him with his beloved Kerry during a senior inter-county career that stretches back to 2003. O’Sullivan, who made his championship debut against Tipperary in 2003, has the distinction of being one of only 8 players to lift the Sam Maguire more than once (2006 and 2007) following in the footsteps of fellow Kerrymen such as Dick Fitzgerald, John Joe Sheehy and Joe Barrett. In all he made 70 Championship appearances for Kerry, the last of which was in the recent All Ireland defeat of Donegal when he was introduced as a second half sub to win his fifth Celtic Cross. He won three consecutive GAA All Stars between 2007 and 2009. Though plagued with injury this year he still played an outstanding role in Kerry’s championship success and few will forget his display in the Munster final defeat of Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh in July. Declan also has the distinction of lining out in every position on the forward line for Kerry in senior championship. On the Club scene he was no less successful winning County and Munster Junior medals and four senior county championship titles with divisional side South Kerry. OSullivan announced his decision to retire this morning in a statement issued through the Kerry GAA Website Today, I would like to announce my retirement from inter-county football. It has been an incredibly difficult decision to arrive at but, after a lot of consideration, I feel now is the right time. Unfortunately, due to some long-standing injuries, it would be impossible for me to physically compete at the required level in 2015. Hopefully, after a long rest and some corrective work on my knees, I will be able to enjoy playing with my club for a number of years to come. Kerry Manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice was one of the first to pay tribute to the 5 Times All Ireland Medal Holder “On behalf of the Kerry management and players I would like to congratulate Declan O’Sullivan on his retirement. He has won everything and has lifted Sam Maguire twice as captain. His honesty, the warrior like way he leads by example and his innate football ability meant his team mates loved him. He also has a stubborn streak that meant he always fought his corner obstinately, be it in an argument or to win a breaking ball that might turn a game. His display in the Munster final was one of the great performances. He was always excellent at reading what a game required and delivering that Former Kerry Manager Jack OConnor was fullsome in his praise for his fellow Dromid Pearses Clubman He will go down as one of the truly great Kerry players and as well as the contribution he made to the County, he was also a great clubman with both Dromid Pearses and South Kerry as well as with his School, Colaiste na Sceilge........He was a fantastic player, even at a very young age and one of the great Kerry forwards of all time – there’s no question about that Patrick OSullivan, Chairman of Kerry County Committee also paid tribute to OSullivan “As Kerry people we all owe Declan O’Sullivan a great debt of gratitude for the outstanding service he has given to the county in a career that stretches way back to his Minor days in 2001. Declan will be a huge loss to the Kerry setup, both as a player on the field of play and on the training field and in the dressing room where his leadership qualities were never more evident than in this year’s championship campaign where he nurtured the younger players around him......To Declan, and his family Michelle, Ollie and Robbie, I extend a sincere thank you on behalf of the Gaels of Kerry.
Posted on: Wed, 19 Nov 2014 08:38:21 +0000
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