Mickey O'Sullivan
Encyclopedia
Mickey 'Ned' O’Sullivan (born 14 April 1952 in Kenmare
, County Kerry
) is an Irish
Gaelic football
manager
and former player. He played football with his local club Kenmare
and was a member of the Kerry
senior inter-county team at various times from 1972 until 1980. O'Sullivan captained Kerry to the All-Ireland
title in 1975 and later served as manager of both the Kerry and Limerick
senior football teams.
-speaking Coláiste Íosagáin in Ballyvourney
, County Cork
. After completing his Leaving Certificate
O'Sullivan travelled to London
where he studied physical education at St. Mary's University. He subsequently completed his H.Dip. in education at University College Dublin
. During his tenure here O'Sullivan played on the college football team in the Sigerson Cup
.
O'Sullivan subsequently returned to Kenmare and took a teaching post in Scoil Ghobnatan in Ballyvourney, teaching Geography to the students and, in reecent years, becoming a guidance councilor. He has also, in the past, run an award winning restaurant and a bar in Kenmare town.
O'Sullivan married Marian King in 1977 and together they have two children - Éamonn (born 1979) and Bryan born (1982).
and enjoyed much success.
At underage level O'Sullivan won a Towns Cup title in 1968, before later winning three intermediate county championships in 1968, 1970 and 1972. While O'Sullivan cherished these victories, much more was to follow at senior level.
In 1972 O'Sullivan won county football league
title, however, two years later he lined out in his first county championship final. North Kerry divisional side Shannon Rangers provided the opposition on that occasion, howveer, Kenmare ended the game as champions and O'Sullivan picked up a coveted county winners' medal. It was also the club's first triumph in this grade.
After surrendering their title in 1975, Kenmare were back in the county championship final the following year. Austin Stacks
provided the opposition, however, a rout took place. O'Sullivan's side were trounced by 1-14 to 0-7. It was a defeat that would take a large toll on the club's hopes of further county titles.
In 1987 O'Sullivan was entering the twilight of his club football career, however, he was still a key member of the Kenmare team that reached a third county final. Dr. Crokes
of Killarney
were the opponents, however, Kenmare triumphed and O'Sullivan added a second and final county winners' medal to his collection.
winners' medal in the minor grade. Kerry later booked their place in the All-Ireland final against Galway
. In a tense encounter both sides finished level anda replay was required. That game was also a close affair with the result remaining in doubt right up until the final whistle. In the end O'Sullivan's side were defeated by a single point as Galway took the title.
O'Sullivan later joined the Kerry under-21 team where he also enjoyed some success at the highest levels of that grade. In 1972 he missed Kerry's provincial decider triumph, however, he returned in time for the All-Ireland final against Galway. Both sides gave admirable displays, however, the westerners scored two key goals and clinched a 2-6 to 0-7 victory and another All-Ireland defeat for O'Sullivan.
In 1973 O'Sullivan's side reached the provincial under-21 final again. A close 2-12 to 1-12 score line gave Kerry the win and gave O'Sullivan his first Munster
winners' medal in this grade. While he had been captain for the Munster final, O'Sullivan relinquished this position for the subsequent All-Ireland showdown with Mayo
. Goals cost Kerry the final the previous year, however, the team had learned from their mistakes. A 2-13 to 0-13 score line gave Kerry the win and gave O'Sullivan a coveted All-Ireland
under-21 winners' medal.
and faced Mayo at Croke Park
. Kerry had a relatively easy 2-11 to 1-9 victory and O'Sullivan claimed his first national title at senior level. He was later a non-playing substitute as Kerry went on to claim the Munster
title but lose the All-Ireland final to Offaly
after a draw and a replay.
Two more National League titles followed for O'Sullivan in 1973 and 1974, however, archrivals Cork claimed the Munster title in both years.
Things began to change in 1975 as Mick O'Dwyer
took over as Kerry manager and O'Sullivan was appointed captain for the year. While 'the Kingdom' had played second fiddle to Cork over the previous two years, O'Sullivan's side smashed 'the Rebels' in that year's Munster final. A huge 1-14 to 0-7 scor eline gave Kerry the win and gave O'Sullivan his first Munster
title on the field of play. The Kenmare man later lined out in his first senior All-Ireland final. Reigning champions Dublin
provided the opposition and were installed as the red-hot favourites over the youngest Kerry team of all-time. On a rain-soaked day John Egan
and substitute Ger O'Driscoll
scored two goals and 'the Dubs' were ambushed by 2-12 to 0-11. In spite of claiming the championship the final was a disappointing affair for O’Sullivan as he became the only All-Ireland winning captain since the Sam Maguire Cup
was first presented not to collect the famous trophy. He was knocked unconscious seventeen minutes into the first-half and woke up in a Dublin hospital when the match was long finished. O'Sullivan was awarded his only All Star
award at the end of the year.
In 1976 O'Sullivan captured his second Munster title following a draw and a replay with Cork. A second consecutive All-Ireland final appearance quickly followed as Kerry faced Dublin once again. Both sides were hoping for success, however, new 'Dub' Kevin Moran was causing havoc with the Kerry defence. Immediately after the game started he careered through the Kerry half-back and full-back lines, however, his shot at goal went wide. This set the pace for the rest of the match. John McCarthy finished a five-man move to score Dublin's first goal of the day. A converted penalty by Jimmy Keaveney
was followed by a third goal from Mullins. A 3-8 to 0-10 score line gave Dublin the title and meant that Kerry surrendered their All-Ireland title.
Following the 1976 defeat O’Sullivan took a break from the game because of a loss of form. He lived in the United States
for a year before returning to Ireland at the end of 1977. By 1978 O'Sullivan was back as a member of the Kerry senior football panel. He played just a few championship games over the next few years because he was unable to hold down a regular place on what was quickly becoming the greatest football team of all-time.
O'Sullivan was a non-playing substitute as Kerry won another set of Munster and All-Ireland titles again in 1978. He opted out of the game again in 1979 but returned in 1980 to win another pair of Munster and All-Ireland medals as a non-playing substitute once again. O'Sullivan retired from inter-county football at the end of 1980.
in the inter-provincial series of games and enjoyed much success. He was first called up for Munster duty in 1975 and lined out at left wing-forward in the final against Ulster
. Munster went on a goal-scoring spree that day and secured a remarkable 6-7 to 0-15 victory. It was O'Sullivan's first Railway Cup winners' medal.
In 1976 O'Sullivan was appointed captain of Munster for the inter-pro series. A defeat of Ulster set up a clash with Leinster
in the final. Once again, the southern province proved too strong and a 2-15 to 2-8 score line gave O'Sullivan a second consecutive Railway Cup medal.
In 1990 O'Sullivan guided Kerry to a 25th consecutive provincial final showdown with Cork. In doing so he had the chance to stop 'the Rebel's from completing a record four-in-a-row in Munster. The game turned into a disaster from a Kerry viewpoint. An embarrassing 2-23 to 1-11 score line resulted in one of Kerry's biggest ever defeats at the hands of Cork. O'Sullivan's under-21 player fared much better in their championship. A 2-9 to 0-9 defeat of Cork gave Kerry the provincial under-21 title after a one-year absence. An All-Ireland final showdown with Tyrone
soon followed. A high-scoring game developed over the course of the hour, however, Kerry had far too much firepower in terms of goal-scoring ability. A 5-12 to 2-11 score line gave Kerry the win an All-Ireland under-21 title as manager to O'Sullivan.
In 1991 O'Sullivan's senior footballers bounced back after a five-year provincial drought. A narrow 0-23 to 3-12 defeat of Limerick
gave Kerry the Munster title for the first time since 1986 and restored some respect to the county team. While in other years Kerry would have forged ahead and contested the All-Ireland decider, a two-point defeat by Down
in the semi-final saw O'Sullivan's side exit the championship at the penultimate stage. The dual manager enjoyed a bumper season as the Kerry under-21 team retained their provincial title with a narrow 1-8 to 0-10 defeat of Cork. There would be no fairytale ending, however, as the Kerry under-21 team were trounced by Tyrone in the All-Ireland decider.
1992 saw O'Sullivan manage Kerry for the final time. While the Kerry under-21 footballers claimed a third Munster title in-a-row, they were later beaten in the All-Ireland semi-final. O'Sullivan's senior footballers also reached a third consecutive provincial decider, this time as reigning champions. Minnows Clare
provided the opposition as Kerry were installed as the red-hot favourites to retain the title. The form book was torn up, however, as Clare ploughed ahead to a remarkable 2-20 to 0-12 victory. It was their second-ever provincial title and a first since 1917. Following this defeat O’Sullivan resigned as manager of both the Kerry senior and under-21 teams.
O'Sullivan's first championship game was a success as his new charges defeated Clare in the Munster quarter-final. The momentum from this game was short-lived as Limerick were subsequently beaten by Cork in what has been described as one of the worst games of football ever played. After exiting the proper championship O'Sullivan's side took the qualifiers route. Westmeath
provided the opposition and a close game developed. In spite of putting up a good fight O@Sullivan's side lost narrowly by 0-13 to 1-9.
O'Sullivan's second season in charge was an unhappy one. The team's opening game in the Munster championship quarter-final resulted in a 2-14 to 0-7 trouncing by Cork. The qualifiers beckoned for Limerick once again. Louth
provided the opposition, however, for the second year in succession O'Sullivan's side were beaten by a single point and exited the All-Ireland hunt.
A third season in charge in 2008 saw the Limerick team improve. A Munster quarter-final win over Tipperary
set up a semi-final meeting with Cork. O'Sullivan's side were minutes away from a provincial final as Cork trailed by three points as the seventy minutes were almost up. Two quick goals, however, changed the game completely. Instead of lining out in the Munster final, O'Sullivan's charges were banished to the qualifiers once again. A remarkable 4-12 to 4-3 trouncing of Meath
gave Limerick the chance to advance to the second round of the series where Kildare
were the opponents. A close game developed, however,t he old adage that goals win games was very much to the fore. Limerick were the defeated team as Kildare won by 1-11 to 0-11.
2009 saw O'Sullivan enjoy his best season as manager of the Limerick senior footballers. After a disappointing league campaign championship victories over a fancied Tipperary side and Clare, Limerick qualified for a first Munster final since 2005. Cork provided the opposition and were the red-hot favourites, however, Limerick stifled 'the Rebels' from the very start. For a time it looked as if Limerick would claim a first provincial title since 1896, however, Cork scored key goals which saw them claim a narrow 2-6 to 0-11 victory. O'Sullivan's players took heart from this and entered the qualifiers at the final stage. A win in this game over Meath would have allowed Limerick enter the All-Ireland series for the first time in over a century. That game proved to be a difficult assignment. A narrow 1-13 to 2-9 victory for Meath saw Limerick exit the championship, however, it was a season to be proud for the Limerick footballers.
2010 saw O'Sullivan enjoy his 5th season in charge of the Limerick Senior footballers. After an impressive league campaign, Limerick qualified for the National League final where they faced Waterford
and won by 1-16 to Waterford 1-14. They once again opened their championship with a victory over Clare to qualify for their 2nd Munster final in a row where they faced 2009 All-Ireland champions Kerry
. It proved to be quite a close match with the result ending Kerry 1-17 to Limerick 1-14. They entered the quailifiers once again where they faced Cork wher they were narrowly exited with the result ending Cork 0-16 to Limerick 1-11.
On August 19, 2010 O'Sullivan resigned as manager.
minor team.
Kenmare
Kenmare is a small town in the south of County Kerry, Ireland. The name Kenmare is the anglicised form of Ceann Mara meaning "head of the sea", referring to the head of Kenmare Bay.-Location:...
, 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...
Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
manager
Manager (Gaelic games)
In Gaelic games, a manager or coach is an individual involved in the direction and instruction of the on-field operations of a team. Managing, or coaching, entails the application of sport tactics and strategies during the game itself, and usually entails substitution of players and other such...
and former player. He played football with his local club Kenmare
Kenmare GAA
Kenmare GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club from Kenmare in County Kerry.The club competes as a joint divisional side with other clubs from the Kenmare area like Templenoe GAA in the county championship and as an individual club in other competitions.-History:The Kenmare Athletic Club was...
and was 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 at various times from 1972 until 1980. O'Sullivan captained Kerry to the 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...
title in 1975 and later served as manager of both the Kerry and Limerick
Limerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
senior football teams.
Biography
Mickey 'Ned' O’Sullivan was born in Kenmare, County Kerry in 1952. He was educated at the local national school before later attending the IrishIrish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
-speaking Coláiste Íosagáin in Ballyvourney
Ballyvourney
Baile Bhuirne , anglicised as Ballyvourney is a Gaeltacht village in south-west County Cork, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the barony of Muskerry West and is also one half of the Ecclesiastical parish of Baile Bhuirne agus Cúil Aodha in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cloyne-Location and...
, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
. After completing his Leaving Certificate
Leaving Certificate
The Leaving Certificate Examinations , commonly referred to as the Leaving Cert is the final examination in the Irish secondary school system. It takes a minimum of two years preparation, but an optional Transition Year means that for those students it takes place three years after the Junior...
O'Sullivan travelled to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
where he studied physical education at St. Mary's University. He subsequently completed his H.Dip. in education at University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
. During his tenure here O'Sullivan played on the college football team in the Sigerson Cup
Sigerson Cup
The Sigerson Cup is the top division of Higher Education Gaelic football in Ireland, It is administrated by the Higher Education committee which is part of the Gaelic Athletic Association...
.
O'Sullivan subsequently returned to Kenmare and took a teaching post in Scoil Ghobnatan in Ballyvourney, teaching Geography to the students and, in reecent years, becoming a guidance councilor. He has also, in the past, run an award winning restaurant and a bar in Kenmare town.
O'Sullivan married Marian King in 1977 and together they have two children - Éamonn (born 1979) and Bryan born (1982).
Club
O’Sullivan played his club football with his local club in KenmareKenmare GAA
Kenmare GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club from Kenmare in County Kerry.The club competes as a joint divisional side with other clubs from the Kenmare area like Templenoe GAA in the county championship and as an individual club in other competitions.-History:The Kenmare Athletic Club was...
and enjoyed much success.
At underage level O'Sullivan won a Towns Cup title in 1968, before later winning three intermediate county championships in 1968, 1970 and 1972. While O'Sullivan cherished these victories, much more was to follow at senior level.
In 1972 O'Sullivan won county football league
Kerry County Football League - Division 1
The Kerry County Football League is a Gaelic football competition between all of the club teams in Kerry. The competition is divided into five divisions. All of the teams in each division play against each other once. At the end of the competition the top 2 and bottom 2 teams get promoted and...
title, however, two years later he lined out in his first county championship final. North Kerry divisional side Shannon Rangers provided the opposition on that occasion, howveer, Kenmare ended the game as champions and O'Sullivan picked up a coveted county winners' medal. It was also the club's first triumph in this grade.
After surrendering their title in 1975, Kenmare were back in the county championship final the following year. Austin Stacks
Austin Stacks
Austin Stacks is a hurling and Gaelic football club based in Tralee in County Kerry, Ireland. It has more All-Ireland Senior Football Championship medals and GAA All-Stars than any other GAA club in Ireland...
provided the opposition, however, a rout took place. O'Sullivan's side were trounced by 1-14 to 0-7. It was a defeat that would take a large toll on the club's hopes of further county titles.
In 1987 O'Sullivan was entering the twilight of his club football career, however, he was still a key member of the Kenmare team that reached a third county final. Dr. Crokes
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....
of Killarney
Killarney
Killarney is a town in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland. The town is located north of the MacGillicuddy Reeks, on the northeastern shore of the Lough Lein/Leane which are part of Killarney National Park. The town and its surrounding region are home to St...
were the opponents, however, Kenmare triumphed and O'Sullivan added a second and final county winners' medal to his collection.
Minor & under-21
O'Sullivan first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Kerry minor football team in 1970. That year he lined out in the minor provincial decider against Cork. The Kerrymen recorded a comprehensive victory, giving O'Sullivan a MunsterMunster Minor Football Championship
The 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...
winners' medal in the minor grade. Kerry later booked their place in the All-Ireland final against Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
. In a tense encounter both sides finished level anda replay was required. That game was also a close affair with the result remaining in doubt right up until the final whistle. In the end O'Sullivan's side were defeated by a single point as Galway took the title.
O'Sullivan later joined the Kerry under-21 team where he also enjoyed some success at the highest levels of that grade. In 1972 he missed Kerry's provincial decider triumph, however, he returned in time for the All-Ireland final against Galway. Both sides gave admirable displays, however, the westerners scored two key goals and clinched a 2-6 to 0-7 victory and another All-Ireland defeat for O'Sullivan.
In 1973 O'Sullivan's side reached the provincial under-21 final again. A close 2-12 to 1-12 score line gave Kerry the win and gave O'Sullivan his first Munster
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....
winners' medal in this grade. While he had been captain for the Munster final, O'Sullivan relinquished this position for the subsequent All-Ireland showdown with 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:...
. Goals cost Kerry the final the previous year, however, the team had learned from their mistakes. A 2-13 to 0-13 score line gave Kerry the win and gave O'Sullivan a coveted All-Ireland
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...
under-21 winners' medal.
Senior
By this stage O’Sullivan had established himself on the Kerry senior team. In 1972 Kerry reached the final of the 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...
and faced Mayo at Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
. Kerry had a relatively easy 2-11 to 1-9 victory and O'Sullivan claimed his first national title at senior level. He was later a non-playing substitute as Kerry went on to claim the Munster
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...
title but lose the All-Ireland final to Offaly
Offaly GAA
The Offaly County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Offaly GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Offaly...
after a draw and a replay.
Two more National League titles followed for O'Sullivan in 1973 and 1974, however, archrivals Cork claimed the Munster title in both years.
Things began to change in 1975 as Mick O'Dwyer
Mick O'Dwyer
Mick O'Dwyer , is an Irish Gaelic football manager and former player. He played Gaelic football with his local club Waterville and was a member of the Kerry senior team from 1956 until 1974...
took over as Kerry manager and O'Sullivan was appointed captain for the year. While 'the Kingdom' had played second fiddle to Cork over the previous two years, O'Sullivan's side smashed 'the Rebels' in that year's Munster final. A huge 1-14 to 0-7 scor eline gave Kerry the win and gave O'Sullivan his first Munster
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...
title on the field of play. The Kenmare man later lined out in his first senior All-Ireland final. Reigning champions 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...
provided the opposition and were installed as the red-hot favourites over the youngest Kerry team of all-time. On a rain-soaked day John Egan
John Egan (footballer)
John Egan is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Sneem, his divisional side South Kerry and was a member of the Kerry senior inter-county team from 1975 until 1984.He also played hurling with neighbouring club Kenmare.Born in Tahilla , County Kerry, Egan...
and substitute Ger O'Driscoll
Ger O'Driscoll
Ger O'Driscoll is an Irish sportsperson. He plays hurling with his local club Newcestown and has been a member of the Cork senior inter-county team since 2009 due to the 2008-2009 Cork players strike. O'Driscoll won back-to-back Munster minor titles in 2004 and 2005...
scored two goals and 'the Dubs' were ambushed by 2-12 to 0-11. In spite of claiming the championship the final was a disappointing affair for O’Sullivan as he became the only All-Ireland winning captain since 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...
was first presented not to collect the famous trophy. He was knocked unconscious seventeen minutes into the first-half and woke up in a Dublin hospital when the match was long finished. O'Sullivan was awarded his only All Star
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...
award at the end of the year.
In 1976 O'Sullivan captured his second Munster title following a draw and a replay with Cork. A second consecutive All-Ireland final appearance quickly followed as Kerry faced Dublin once again. Both sides were hoping for success, however, new 'Dub' Kevin Moran was causing havoc with the Kerry defence. Immediately after the game started he careered through the Kerry half-back and full-back lines, however, his shot at goal went wide. This set the pace for the rest of the match. John McCarthy finished a five-man move to score Dublin's first goal of the day. A converted penalty by Jimmy Keaveney
Jimmy Keaveney
James "Jimmy" Keaveney is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club St. Vincents and was a member of the Dublin senior inter-county team from 1965 until 1978. Keaveney is regarded as one of Dublin's greatest-ever players.-Club:Keaveney played his club football...
was followed by a third goal from Mullins. A 3-8 to 0-10 score line gave Dublin the title and meant that Kerry surrendered their All-Ireland title.
Following the 1976 defeat O’Sullivan took a break from the game because of a loss of form. He lived in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for a year before returning to Ireland at the end of 1977. By 1978 O'Sullivan was back as a member of the Kerry senior football panel. He played just a few championship games over the next few years because he was unable to hold down a regular place on what was quickly becoming the greatest football team of all-time.
O'Sullivan was a non-playing substitute as Kerry won another set of Munster and All-Ireland titles again in 1978. He opted out of the game again in 1979 but returned in 1980 to win another pair of Munster and All-Ireland medals as a non-playing substitute once again. O'Sullivan retired from inter-county football at the end of 1980.
Inter-provincial
O'Sullivan also lined out with MunsterMunster GAA
The Munster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Munster.-Constituent counties:*Cork*Clare*Kerry*Limerick*Tipperary*Waterford-Honours:...
in the inter-provincial series of games and enjoyed much success. He was first called up for Munster duty in 1975 and lined out at left wing-forward in the final against Ulster
Ulster GAA
The Ulster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, and handball in the province of Ulster. The headquarters of the Ulster GAA is based in Armagh City....
. Munster went on a goal-scoring spree that day and secured a remarkable 6-7 to 0-15 victory. It was O'Sullivan's first Railway Cup winners' medal.
In 1976 O'Sullivan was appointed captain of Munster for the inter-pro series. A defeat of Ulster set up a clash with Leinster
Leinster GAA
The Leinster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Leinster. The Leinster Council has been partnered with the European County Board to help develop Gaelic Games in Europe...
in the final. Once again, the southern province proved too strong and a 2-15 to 2-8 score line gave O'Sullivan a second consecutive Railway Cup medal.
Kerry
In late 1989 O’Sullivan had the unenviable task of succeeding the great Mick O'Dwyer as manager of the Kerry senior football side. Not only that but he also took charge of the Kerry under-21 football team. While under O'Dwyer Kerry had won eleven provincial titles in twelve years, Cork were the dominant force in the province as they had claimed three Munster titles in succession between 1987 and 1989.In 1990 O'Sullivan guided Kerry to a 25th consecutive provincial final showdown with Cork. In doing so he had the chance to stop 'the Rebel's from completing a record four-in-a-row in Munster. The game turned into a disaster from a Kerry viewpoint. An embarrassing 2-23 to 1-11 score line resulted in one of Kerry's biggest ever defeats at the hands of Cork. O'Sullivan's under-21 player fared much better in their championship. A 2-9 to 0-9 defeat of Cork gave Kerry the provincial under-21 title after a one-year absence. An All-Ireland final showdown with Tyrone
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....
soon followed. A high-scoring game developed over the course of the hour, however, Kerry had far too much firepower in terms of goal-scoring ability. A 5-12 to 2-11 score line gave Kerry the win an All-Ireland under-21 title as manager to O'Sullivan.
In 1991 O'Sullivan's senior footballers bounced back after a five-year provincial drought. A narrow 0-23 to 3-12 defeat of Limerick
Limerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
gave Kerry the Munster title for the first time since 1986 and restored some respect to the county team. While in other years Kerry would have forged ahead and contested the All-Ireland decider, a two-point defeat by Down
Down GAA
The Down County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Down GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Down...
in the semi-final saw O'Sullivan's side exit the championship at the penultimate stage. The dual manager enjoyed a bumper season as the Kerry under-21 team retained their provincial title with a narrow 1-8 to 0-10 defeat of Cork. There would be no fairytale ending, however, as the Kerry under-21 team were trounced by Tyrone in the All-Ireland decider.
1992 saw O'Sullivan manage Kerry for the final time. While the Kerry under-21 footballers claimed a third Munster title in-a-row, they were later beaten in the All-Ireland semi-final. O'Sullivan's senior footballers also reached a third consecutive provincial decider, this time as reigning champions. Minnows Clare
Clare GAA
The Clare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Clare GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Clare. The county board is also responsible for the Clare inter-county teams....
provided the opposition as Kerry were installed as the red-hot favourites to retain the title. The form book was torn up, however, as Clare ploughed ahead to a remarkable 2-20 to 0-12 victory. It was their second-ever provincial title and a first since 1917. Following this defeat O’Sullivan resigned as manager of both the Kerry senior and under-21 teams.
Colaiste Ghobnatan
O'Sullivan, who has thought in the school with many years, has also been a coach to the team. He has proven a great asset to the team, and led the 2008 team to glory in securing a place in the All-Ireland Senior Vocational Schools semi-final. Unfortunately, they were un successful in their bid for glory, as they had a close loss against Granard.Limerick
In October 2005 O’Sullivan took over as manager of the Limerick senior football team.O'Sullivan's first championship game was a success as his new charges defeated Clare in the Munster quarter-final. The momentum from this game was short-lived as Limerick were subsequently beaten by Cork in what has been described as one of the worst games of football ever played. After exiting the proper championship O'Sullivan's side took the qualifiers route. Westmeath
Westmeath GAA
The Westmeath County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Westmeath GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Westmeath...
provided the opposition and a close game developed. In spite of putting up a good fight O@Sullivan's side lost narrowly by 0-13 to 1-9.
O'Sullivan's second season in charge was an unhappy one. The team's opening game in the Munster championship quarter-final resulted in a 2-14 to 0-7 trouncing by Cork. The qualifiers beckoned for Limerick once again. Louth
Louth GAA
The Louth County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Louth GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Louth. The county board is also responsible for the Louth inter-county teams....
provided the opposition, however, for the second year in succession O'Sullivan's side were beaten by a single point and exited the All-Ireland hunt.
A third season in charge in 2008 saw the Limerick team improve. A Munster quarter-final win over Tipperary
Tipperary 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...
set up a semi-final meeting with Cork. O'Sullivan's side were minutes away from a provincial final as Cork trailed by three points as the seventy minutes were almost up. Two quick goals, however, changed the game completely. Instead of lining out in the Munster final, O'Sullivan's charges were banished to the qualifiers once again. A remarkable 4-12 to 4-3 trouncing of Meath
Meath GAA
The Meath County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Meath GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Meath, as well as for Meath inter-county teams.- Pre-1960s :...
gave Limerick the chance to advance to the second round of the series where Kildare
Kildare GAA
For more information see Kildare Senior Club Football Championship or Kildare Senior Club Hurling Championship.The Kildare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Kildare GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kildare...
were the opponents. A close game developed, however,t he old adage that goals win games was very much to the fore. Limerick were the defeated team as Kildare won by 1-11 to 0-11.
2009 saw O'Sullivan enjoy his best season as manager of the Limerick senior footballers. After a disappointing league campaign championship victories over a fancied Tipperary side and Clare, Limerick qualified for a first Munster final since 2005. Cork provided the opposition and were the red-hot favourites, however, Limerick stifled 'the Rebels' from the very start. For a time it looked as if Limerick would claim a first provincial title since 1896, however, Cork scored key goals which saw them claim a narrow 2-6 to 0-11 victory. O'Sullivan's players took heart from this and entered the qualifiers at the final stage. A win in this game over Meath would have allowed Limerick enter the All-Ireland series for the first time in over a century. That game proved to be a difficult assignment. A narrow 1-13 to 2-9 victory for Meath saw Limerick exit the championship, however, it was a season to be proud for the Limerick footballers.
2010 saw O'Sullivan enjoy his 5th season in charge of the Limerick Senior footballers. After an impressive league campaign, Limerick qualified for the National League final where they faced Waterford
Waterford GAA
The Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Waterford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for all levels of Gaelic games in County Waterford. The County Board is also responsible for the Waterford inter-county teams. The county...
and won by 1-16 to Waterford 1-14. They once again opened their championship with a victory over Clare to qualify for their 2nd Munster final in a row where they faced 2009 All-Ireland champions 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...
. It proved to be quite a close match with the result ending Kerry 1-17 to Limerick 1-14. They entered the quailifiers once again where they faced Cork wher they were narrowly exited with the result ending Cork 0-16 to Limerick 1-11.
On August 19, 2010 O'Sullivan resigned as manager.
Return to Kerry
On the 12th of July 2011 O Sullivan was named manager of the KerryKerry 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...
minor team.
Kenmare
- Kerry Senior Football Championship:
- Winner (2): 1974, 1987
- Runner-up (1): 1976
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 (1): 1975 (c)
- Runner-up (1): 1976
- 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 (2): 1975, 1976
- 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): 1971-72, 1972–73, 1973–74
- 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...
:- Winner (1): 1973
- Runner-up (1): 1972
- 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): 1973
- All-Ireland Minor Football ChampionshipAll-Ireland Minor Football ChampionshipThe All-Ireland Minor Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for under-18 competitors of the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland...
:- Winner (0):
- Runner-up (1): 1970
- 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 (1): 1970