Declan O'Sullivan
Encyclopedia
Declan O'Sullivan
Declan O'Sullivan (born 1983 in Cahersiveen, County Kerry
is an Irish
sportsperson. He plays Gaelic football
with his local club Dromid Pearses
, his divisional side South Kerry
and has been a member of the Kerry
senior inter-county team since 2003. O'Sullivan captained Kerry to back-to-back All-Ireland
titles in 2006 and 2007.
O'Sullivan plays his club football with his local club Dromid Pearses
and with his divisional side South Kerry
and has enjoyed much success. After garnering minor and under-21 county titles with South Kerry, he later went on to become a star at senior level.
In 2004 O'Sullivan tasted victory for the first time as a footballer when South Kerry qualified for the final of the county senior championship. The opponents on that occasion were Laune Rangers
. The divisional side were far too powerful on that occasion and secured a 1-13 to 2-5 victory. It was O'Sullivan's first county senior winners' medal.
O'Sullvan's South Kerry side reached the county final again in 2005, this time with Dr. Croke's
providing the opposition. In what was considered a dream final, the game turned into a close affair. After the sixty minutes South Kerry retained their title and O'Sullivan picked up a second county winners' medal.
In 2006 South Kerry still dominated the club championship in Kerry. The final that year was a repeat of 2005 as Dr. Crokes set out on a revenge mission. The game developed into an extremely tense battle with no side taking a substantial lead. At the full-time whistle South Kerry just about retained their title for a third consecutive year on a score line of 0-12 to 1-8. It was O'Sullivan's third county winners' medal.
South Kerry had the chance to make history in 2007 by capturing a fourth consecutive county title. All went to plan as the divisional side found little difficulty in reaching the final once again. A divisonal side from the other half of the county, Feale Rangers
provided the opposition. The game was an extremely close affair, however, O'Sullivan's side were finally bested as Rangers went on to win by 1-5 to 0-6.
In 2009 for the third time in 5 years South Kerry and Dr.Crokes faced each other in the county final. South Kerry ran out one point winners on a score line of 1-08 to 0-10 giving Sullivan a fourth county championship medal.
Dromid Pearses
In 2004 he helped Dromid Pearses
win there first ever South Kerry Senior Football Championship
beating St Marys on a scoreline of 0-09 to 0-07 in the final.
After losing out in 2010 O'Sullivan led Dromid Pearses
back to the final of the Junior County Championship
but this time thanks to 4 O'Sullivan landed Dromid Pearses
there first Junior title. The later added the Munster Junior Club Football Championship
title to there winnings for the year.
. He won the National Football League
and All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2004
with Kerry, beating Mayo GAA
comfortably. 2005 was slightly less successful for O'Sullivan, with Tyrone GAA
beating Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final. In 2006, O'Sullivan became Kerry captain. He captained Kerry to a comprehensive All-Ireland final victory over Mayo
in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2006
final. He had lost his place in the side after the Munster Final Replay defeat to Cork and was booed off by a minority of his own fans. However, he won his place back to lead the team out for the All Ireland Final and scored the opening goal in the 4-15 to 3-05 demolition of Mayo
before leading the team up the steps to lift Sam Maguire
and shared the honour with Colm Cooper
(who had captained the side in his absence). Again Kerry had completed a League-Championship double.
In 2007, O'Sullivan had easily his best year so far, scoring crucial goals against Monaghan
and Dublin
, the latter coming in the classic Semi Final. Declan became the first man since Tony Hanahoe
in 1977 to lift Sam Maguire twice as Kerry trounced Cork by a scoreline of 3-13 to 1-09. Kerry ironically became the first team to win consecutive titles since Cork in 1990 the same day. 2007 saw Kerry claim the Munster title. O'Sullivan was the winner of the Opel Gaelic Player of the Month award for August, and Kerry went on to claim the All-Ireland title by thrashing Cork 3-13 to
1-9. O'Sullivan was selected at centre-forward on the GAA All-Stars Awards team.,
Declan is also the winner of a Munster minor football championship and a Munster Under-21 football championship as well as having Munster and All-Ireland Vocational Schools championship medals.
Declan is the fourth person after Dick Fitzgerald
, John Joe Sheehy
and Joe Barrett
to twice captain Kerry to All-Ireland glory.
He is also only one of eight people to lift the Sam Maguire cup
twice.
He was replaced by Paul Galvin
as captain of the Kerry footballers for the 2008 season.
O'Sullivan also received a knee injury in June which ruled him out for eight weeks.
Declan O'Sullivan (born 1983 in Cahersiveen, County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
is an Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
sportsperson. He plays Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
with his local club Dromid Pearses
Dromid Pearses
Dromid Pearses is a Gaelic Athletic Association club from Dromid Parish, South Kerry in County Kerry.South Kerry are a Gaelic football Divisional Team in County Kerry....
, his divisional side South Kerry
South Kerry GAA
South Kerry are a Gaelic football and Hurling Divisional Team in County Kerry.The South Kerry Football Team draws its players from eight Club teams in the Division.These are:* St. Mary's Cahirciveen* Renard* St...
and has been a member of the Kerry
Kerry GAA
The Kerry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kerry...
senior inter-county team since 2003. O'Sullivan captained Kerry to back-to-back All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
titles in 2006 and 2007.
Club
South KerryO'Sullivan plays his club football with his local club Dromid Pearses
Dromid Pearses
Dromid Pearses is a Gaelic Athletic Association club from Dromid Parish, South Kerry in County Kerry.South Kerry are a Gaelic football Divisional Team in County Kerry....
and with his divisional side South Kerry
South Kerry GAA
South Kerry are a Gaelic football and Hurling Divisional Team in County Kerry.The South Kerry Football Team draws its players from eight Club teams in the Division.These are:* St. Mary's Cahirciveen* Renard* St...
and has enjoyed much success. After garnering minor and under-21 county titles with South Kerry, he later went on to become a star at senior level.
In 2004 O'Sullivan tasted victory for the first time as a footballer when South Kerry qualified for the final of the county senior championship. The opponents on that occasion were Laune Rangers
Laune Rangers
Laune Rangers is a Gaelic football and Hurling club based in Killorglin, County Kerry, Ireland. The club is affiliated to Kerry GAA. Rangers won the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship in 1996.-History:...
. The divisional side were far too powerful on that occasion and secured a 1-13 to 2-5 victory. It was O'Sullivan's first county senior winners' medal.
O'Sullvan's South Kerry side reached the county final again in 2005, this time with Dr. Croke's
Dr. Crokes
Dr Crokes is a Gaelic football club based in Killarney in County Kerry, Ireland. Famous current players include Colm "Gooch" Cooper and Eoin Brosnan....
providing the opposition. In what was considered a dream final, the game turned into a close affair. After the sixty minutes South Kerry retained their title and O'Sullivan picked up a second county winners' medal.
In 2006 South Kerry still dominated the club championship in Kerry. The final that year was a repeat of 2005 as Dr. Crokes set out on a revenge mission. The game developed into an extremely tense battle with no side taking a substantial lead. At the full-time whistle South Kerry just about retained their title for a third consecutive year on a score line of 0-12 to 1-8. It was O'Sullivan's third county winners' medal.
South Kerry had the chance to make history in 2007 by capturing a fourth consecutive county title. All went to plan as the divisional side found little difficulty in reaching the final once again. A divisonal side from the other half of the county, Feale Rangers
Feale Rangers
Feale Rangers is a North Kerry Divisional Gaelic football team in Kerry. The teams involved are Clounmacon, Duagh, Finuge, Gale Rangers, Listowel Emmets, Moyvane and St...
provided the opposition. The game was an extremely close affair, however, O'Sullivan's side were finally bested as Rangers went on to win by 1-5 to 0-6.
In 2009 for the third time in 5 years South Kerry and Dr.Crokes faced each other in the county final. South Kerry ran out one point winners on a score line of 1-08 to 0-10 giving Sullivan a fourth county championship medal.
Dromid Pearses
In 2004 he helped Dromid Pearses
Dromid Pearses
Dromid Pearses is a Gaelic Athletic Association club from Dromid Parish, South Kerry in County Kerry.South Kerry are a Gaelic football Divisional Team in County Kerry....
win there first ever South Kerry Senior Football Championship
South Kerry Senior Football Championship
The South Kerry Senior Football Championship is a Gaelic football competition between clubs affiliated to the South Kerry division. When a Divisional team like South Kerry win the Kerry Senior Football Championship, the winners of the Divisional championship chose the Kerry Senior Football team...
beating St Marys on a scoreline of 0-09 to 0-07 in the final.
After losing out in 2010 O'Sullivan led Dromid Pearses
Dromid Pearses
Dromid Pearses is a Gaelic Athletic Association club from Dromid Parish, South Kerry in County Kerry.South Kerry are a Gaelic football Divisional Team in County Kerry....
back to the final of the Junior County Championship
Kerry Junior Football Championship
The Kerry junior championship is an annual Gaelic football competition played in County Kerry, Ireland by Gaelic Athletic Association clubs affiliated to Kerry GAA. It is a grade below Kerry Intermediate Football Championship and the winners move up to that grade the year after winning it...
but this time thanks to 4 O'Sullivan landed Dromid Pearses
Dromid Pearses
Dromid Pearses is a Gaelic Athletic Association club from Dromid Parish, South Kerry in County Kerry.South Kerry are a Gaelic football Divisional Team in County Kerry....
there first Junior title. The later added the Munster Junior Club Football Championship
Munster Junior Club Football Championship
Munster Junior Club Football Championship was first played officially in 2003 when Annascaul from Kerry and Carbery Rangers from Cork played each other. An unofficial championship had taken place in the previous year...
title to there winnings for the year.
Inter-county
Declan made his first championship appearance for Kerry in 2003 against TipperaryTipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
. He won the National Football League
National Football League (Ireland)
The National Football League is a Gaelic football tournament held annually between the county teams of Ireland, under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The prize for the winning team is the New Ireland Cup, presented by the New Ireland Assurance Company...
and All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2004
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2004
-Leinster Senior Football Championship:---------------------------------------------Ulster Senior Football Championship:-------------------------------------Connacht Senior Football Championship:----------------...
with Kerry, beating Mayo GAA
Mayo GAA
The Mayo County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Mayo GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Mayo and the Mayo inter-county teams.-History:...
comfortably. 2005 was slightly less successful for O'Sullivan, with Tyrone GAA
Tyrone GAA
The Tyrone County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Tyrone GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Tyrone. The county board is also responsible for the Tyrone inter-county teams....
beating Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final. In 2006, O'Sullivan became Kerry captain. He captained Kerry to a comprehensive All-Ireland final victory over Mayo
Mayo GAA
The Mayo County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Mayo GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Mayo and the Mayo inter-county teams.-History:...
in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2006
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 2006
The 2006 Bank of Ireland All-Ireland Senior Football Championship began on Sunday, May 7, 2006. The 2006 championship used the same "Qualifier" system that was used in 2005....
final. He had lost his place in the side after the Munster Final Replay defeat to Cork and was booed off by a minority of his own fans. However, he won his place back to lead the team out for the All Ireland Final and scored the opening goal in the 4-15 to 3-05 demolition of Mayo
Mayo GAA
The Mayo County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Mayo GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Mayo and the Mayo inter-county teams.-History:...
before leading the team up the steps to lift Sam Maguire
Sam Maguire
Samuel Maguire , an Irish republican and Gaelic footballer, is chiefly remembered as the eponym of the Sam Maguire Cup, given to the All-Ireland Senior Champions of Gaelic football.-Early life:...
and shared the honour with Colm Cooper
Colm Cooper
Colm ‘Gooch’ Cooper is an Irish sportsperson. He plays Gaelic football with his local club Dr. Croke’s and has been a member of the Kerry senior inter-county team since 2002. Cooper is regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation.-Club:Cooper helped Dr. Crokes win the 2000 Kerry...
(who had captained the side in his absence). Again Kerry had completed a League-Championship double.
In 2007, O'Sullivan had easily his best year so far, scoring crucial goals against Monaghan
Monaghan GAA
The Monaghan County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Monaghan GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Monaghan and the Monaghan inter-county football and hurling teams. Separate county boards are responsible for the...
and Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
, the latter coming in the classic Semi Final. Declan became the first man since Tony Hanahoe
Tony Hanahoe
Tony Hanahoe is a retired Irish Gaelic football manager and former player. He played football with his local club St. Vincent's and was a member of the Dublin senior inter-county team from 1964 until 1979. Hanahoe captained Dublin to the All-Ireland titles in 1976 and 1977...
in 1977 to lift Sam Maguire twice as Kerry trounced Cork by a scoreline of 3-13 to 1-09. Kerry ironically became the first team to win consecutive titles since Cork in 1990 the same day. 2007 saw Kerry claim the Munster title. O'Sullivan was the winner of the Opel Gaelic Player of the Month award for August, and Kerry went on to claim the All-Ireland title by thrashing Cork 3-13 to
1-9. O'Sullivan was selected at centre-forward on the GAA All-Stars Awards team.,
Declan is also the winner of a Munster minor football championship and a Munster Under-21 football championship as well as having Munster and All-Ireland Vocational Schools championship medals.
Declan is the fourth person after Dick Fitzgerald
Dick Fitzgerald
Dick Fitzgerald was an Irish sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Dr. Crokes and was a member of the Kerry senior inter-county team from 1903 until 1923. Fitzgerald captained Kerry to back-to-back All-Ireland titles in 1913 and 1914-Biography:Dick was born in College...
, John Joe Sheehy
John Joe Sheehy
John Joe Sheehy was an Irish political/military activist and sportsperson. He participated in the Irish War of Independence and Irish Civil War in the Irish Republican Army, where he was a senior figure in County Kerry...
and Joe Barrett
Joe Barrett
Joe Barrett was an Irish sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Austin Stack's and was a member of the Kerry senior inter-county team from 1923 until 1933. Barrett captained Kerry to the All-Ireland titles of 1929 and 1932.-Biography:Joe Barrett was born at 67 Rock Street,...
to twice captain Kerry to All-Ireland glory.
He is also only one of eight people to lift the Sam Maguire cup
Sam Maguire Cup
The Sam Maguire Cup, often called The Sam , is the name of the cup that is awarded to winners of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier "knockout" competition in the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland...
twice.
He was replaced by Paul Galvin
Paul Galvin (footballer)
Paul Galvin is an Irish sportsperson. He plays Gaelic football with his local club Finuge, his divisional side Feale Rangers and has been a member of the Kerry senior inter-county team since 2003. Galvin had the honour of being named as the 1000th All-Star.Galvin writes a weekly fashion column...
as captain of the Kerry footballers for the 2008 season.
O'Sullivan also received a knee injury in June which ruled him out for eight weeks.
Dromd Pearses/South Kerry
- Kerry Senior Football Championship:
- Winner (4): 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
- Runner-up (1): 2008, 2005, 2011
- Kerry Under-21 Football ChampionshipKerry Under-21 Football ChampionshipThe Kerry Under-21 Football Championship is a Gaelic football competition for teams in Kerry. Players have to be under the age of 21 to compete.-Roll of honour:...
:- Winner (2): 2003, 2004
- Kerry Minor Football ChampionshipKerry Minor Football ChampionshipThe Kerry Minor Football Championship is a Gaelic football competition organized by the Kerry GAA county board. All players need to be under the age of 18. The teams competing are either GAA clubs or divisional teams, who pick from a selection of different clubs within their district.-Roll of honour:...
:- Winner (3): 1999, 2000, 2001
- South Kerry Senior Football ChampionshipSouth Kerry Senior Football ChampionshipThe South Kerry Senior Football Championship is a Gaelic football competition between clubs affiliated to the South Kerry division. When a Divisional team like South Kerry win the Kerry Senior Football Championship, the winners of the Divisional championship chose the Kerry Senior Football team...
:- Winner (1): 2004
Kerry
- All-Ireland Senior Football ChampionshipAll-Ireland Senior Football ChampionshipThe All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
:- Winner (4): 2004, 2006 (c), 2007 (c), 2009
- Runner-up (3): 2005 (c), 2008, 2011
- Munster Senior Football ChampionshipMunster Senior Football ChampionshipThe Munster Senior Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition in the game of football played in the province of Munster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Munster Council and are played during the summer months...
:- Winner (6): 2003, 2004 (sub), 2005 (c), 2007 (c) 2010 2011
- Runner-up (3): 2006 (c), 2008
- National Football LeagueNational Football League (Ireland)The National Football League is a Gaelic football tournament held annually between the county teams of Ireland, under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The prize for the winning team is the New Ireland Cup, presented by the New Ireland Assurance Company...
:- Winner (3): 2004, 2006 (c), 2009
- Runner-up (1): 2008
- Munster Under-21 Football ChampionshipMunster Under-21 Football ChampionshipThe Munster Under-21 Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for players aged between 18 and 21 in the game of Gaelic football played in the province of Munster, in Ireland....
:- Winner (1): 2002
- Runner-up (2): 2003, 2004
- Munster Minor Football ChampionshipMunster Minor Football ChampionshipThe Munster Minor Football Championship is the Minor "knockout" competition in the game of Gaelic football played in the province of Munster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Munster Council. The current Munster Minor football champions are Tipperary. Clare won the inaugural...
:- Winner (2): 2001, 2002
Schools
- Munster Colleges A ChampionshipCorn Uí MhuiríCorn Uí Mhuirí is the cup presented to the winners of the Munster colleges senior football "A" championship, the top level Gaelic football championship for secondary schools in Munster. The holders advance to the All-Ireland colleges "A" senior football championship, where they compete for the...
: - Winner (2): 2001, 2002
- All-Ireland Vocational Schools Senior ChampionshipAll-Ireland Vocational Schools ChampionshipThe All-Ireland Vocational Schools Championship is a Gaelic Athletic Association football and hurling competition. There are two levels of competition. Individual schools compete for county, provincial and All-Ireland competitions...
: - Winner (1): 2000
- All-Ireland Vocational Schools Junior ChampionshipAll-Ireland Vocational Schools ChampionshipThe All-Ireland Vocational Schools Championship is a Gaelic Athletic Association football and hurling competition. There are two levels of competition. Individual schools compete for county, provincial and All-Ireland competitions...
: - Winner (1): 2000