One of the country's classiest footballers has retired from inter-county football. Declan O'Sullivan, a five-time All-Ireland winner, made the announcement via a statement of the Kerry GAA's 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.
It has been a huge honour for me to wear the green and gold for the past 15 years, with 13 of those at senior level. I shared this fantastic journey with incredible team-mates. I would like to thank each and every one of them for their friendship and support throughout my career. Being part of a group with such spirit, togetherness and toughness, during good times and bad, has been the highlight of my career. It has also been a huge honour to compete against great teams and players during this time. I have huge respect and admiration for all those players.
I have been very lucky to play for four exceptional managers; Paidí Ó Sé, Jack O’Connor, Pat O’Shea and Eamonn Fitzmaurice. They have all been fantastic pillars of support for my career in their own unique way. The confidence and support they have each given me made it easy to make the huge sacrifices required to play at this level. I would also like to thank the many selectors, trainers and backroom team members, who I have enjoyed working with over the years.
I would like to give a special thanks to Charlie Nelligan, who first gave me the opportunity to wear the green and gold at minor level. Playing for Charlie quickly gave me an appreciation of the attitude and passion required to play for Kerry. I would also like to thank the Kerry County Board, along with our sponsors Kerry Group, who have always given great support and assistance to all Kerry teams.
I would especially like to thank my club Piarsaigh na Dromoda for all the help and support they have given me. It was a huge honour for me to represent them on the county team for so long. I hope this decision to retire from Kerry will now give me a better chance to play a few more years with my club, and, similarly with South Kerry who I was fortunate to win county senior titles with - which was another huge honour.
I would like to thank the Kerry supporters for all the support and kindness shown to me throughout my career. Your appetite for winning is what keeps driving the players to constantly perform at the highest level.
Most importantly I would like to thank my wife Michelle. Without her loving support and sacrifice down through the years, it would have been impossible for me to give the required commitment to play for as long as I did. I am so grateful to her for allowing me to chase my dreams and I look forward to spending more time with her and our two boys, Ollie and Robbie, into the future. One of the greatest joys in my life was celebrating the All-Ireland in September on the field with Ollie afterwards. With Robbie arriving days later, I look forward so much to bringing the lads to Kerry matches in the near future as a Kerry supporter.
I would also like to pay a special thank you to the rest of my family, who were always there for me, during good times and bad. I would also like to similarly thank all my friends for all their unconditional support throughout my career. That faith and confidence always shown in me by family and friends was a great assistance to me throughout my career.
Finally I would like to wish Eamonn and his management team, and all the lads, the very best for 2015. I look forward to watching them carrying on the great tradition of Kerry football over the coming years.
Declan O'Sullivan
O'Sullivan was part of Kerry's All-Ireland winning panel this year, starring in their Munster football final destruction of Cork but a knee injury hampered his appearances in the latter part of the Championship.
Some tweets in reaction.
Gutted to hear d news dis morn, Ultimate leader & warrior, best ball carrier iv ever seen & played wit, he s a giant among men..#DeclanOSull
— Aidan O Mahony (@GmailMahony) November 19, 2014
Sad to see Deco call it a day, what a player he's been for Kerry. One of the best to wear the jersey & most natural leader I've ever seen.
— Darran O'Sullivan (@Darransull86) November 19, 2014
What a man. What a leader. Declan gave everything to Kerry football. It's sad to see him go #DeclanOSullivan
— Killian Young (@killianyoung) November 19, 2014
Kerry has lost one of its greatest footballers with Declan O Sullivan announcing his retirement / body not able thanks for all your heroics
— Mortimer Murphy (@MortimerMurphy1) November 19, 2014
Declan O'Sullivan has retired from inter-county football. Another Rolls Royce parked #GAA
— John Fogarty (@JohnFogartyIrl) November 19, 2014
Declan is one of 6 players to have played 70 championship games or more for Kerry - the other 5 are the 3 O'Sé's, Gooch & Tom O'Sullivan
— Sylvester Hennessy (@Slyone1069) November 19, 2014
Picture credit: Damien Eagers / SPORTSFILE
