Tom O'Sullivan
Encyclopedia
Tom O'Sullivan is an Irish Gaelic football player from County Kerry
. A Garda Síochána
by profession, he plays his club football for Rathmore and his county football for Kerry GAA
.
. However, he was part of the Kerry Vocational Schools team that won the All Ireland in 1997. He also won the Munster Under-21 Football Championship
with Kerry on two occasions, in 1998 and 1999, going on to win the All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship
in 1998.
. His Munster Senior Football Championship
debut came in 2000, against Cork. O'Sullivan has won the Munster Senior Football Championship
six times. He has won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
with Kerry on five occasions in 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2009. Tom won GAA All Stars Awards
for his performances in 2000, 2004, 2005 and in 2009. He also picked up two National Football League
medals for Kerry in 2004, 2006 and 2009.
O'Sullivan was known primarily as a corner-back, but has had to move to full-back since the retirement of Mike McCarthy. He coped very well in the early stages of the championship, being described as 'soundness personified at full back'. However, he struggled at times in the Munster final against Michael Cussen
of Cork and in the All-Ireland quarter-final against Vincent Corey of Monaghan
. Nevertheless, the year ended well for O'Sullivan, as Kerry beat Cork by 3-13 to 1-9 in the All-Ireland Final
Club
Schools
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...
. A Garda Síochána
Garda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
by profession, he plays his club football for Rathmore and his county football for Kerry GAA
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...
.
Underage Playing Career
O'Sullivan never played football for Kerry in the All-Ireland Minor Football ChampionshipAll-Ireland Minor Football Championship
The All-Ireland Minor Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for under-18 competitors of the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland...
. However, he was part of the Kerry Vocational Schools team that won the All Ireland in 1997. He also won the Munster Under-21 Football Championship
Munster Under-21 Football Championship
The 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....
with Kerry on two occasions, in 1998 and 1999, going on to win the All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship
All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship
The All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for players aged between 18 and 21 in the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and are played during the summer months...
in 1998.
Senior Playing Career
Tom O'Sullivan made his debut for the Kerry Seniors against Cork in the 1999 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...
. His Munster Senior Football Championship
Munster Senior Football Championship
The 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...
debut came in 2000, against Cork. O'Sullivan has won the Munster Senior Football Championship
Munster Senior Football Championship
The 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...
six times. He has won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
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...
with Kerry on five occasions in 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2009. Tom won GAA All Stars Awards
GAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
for his performances in 2000, 2004, 2005 and in 2009. He also picked up two 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...
medals for Kerry in 2004, 2006 and 2009.
O'Sullivan was known primarily as a corner-back, but has had to move to full-back since the retirement of Mike McCarthy. He coped very well in the early stages of the championship, being described as 'soundness personified at full back'. However, he struggled at times in the Munster final against Michael Cussen
Michael Cussen
Michael Cussen is an Irish sportsperson who is a member of the Cork senior hurling panel. At club level he plays Gaelic football with Glanmire and hurling with Sarsfield's.-Club:...
of Cork and in the All-Ireland quarter-final against Vincent Corey of 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...
. Nevertheless, the year ended well for O'Sullivan, as Kerry beat Cork by 3-13 to 1-9 in the All-Ireland Final
Honours
Intercounty- 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...
5: 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009
- All-Ireland Under-21 Football ChampionshipAll-Ireland Under-21 Football ChampionshipThe All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for players aged between 18 and 21 in the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and are played during the summer months...
1: 1998
- 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...
7: 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2010
- 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....
2: 1998, 1999
- 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...
2: 2004, 2006, 2009
- All Ireland Senior Football Final Man of the Match: 2009
Club
- Kerry Senior Football Championship 2: 1998, 1999 (With East Kerry)
- County League Div 1 1: 2002
- Kerry Intermediate Football ChampionshipKerry Intermediate Football ChampionshipThis is a competition organized by Kerry GAA for clubs that are not good enough to play in the Kerry Senior Football Championship. The winners usually play Senior in the years after they win this competition. The winners also represent Kerry in the Munster Intermediate Club Football Championship....
1: 1999
- Kerry Junior Football ChampionshipKerry Junior Football ChampionshipThe 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...
1: 1998
- East Kerry Senior Football ChampionshipEast Kerry Senior Football ChampionshipThe East Kerry Senior Football Championship is a Gaelic football competition for teams affiliated to the East Kerry division. Most adult clubs in the division compete for this cup, even if they are playing at junior or intermediate grades. The competition has been dominated by Dr. Crokes. The...
1: 2005
Schools
- All-Ireland Vocational Schools Football Championship 1: 1997
- Munster Vocational Schools Championship 1: 1997