DECLAN O’SULLIVAN ANNOUNCED his retirement today and he departs the intercounty scene safe in the knowledge that he’s part of a select GAA group.
O’Sullivan is one of only eight men to have lifted Sam Maguire more than once as All-Ireland football winning captain since the cup was first awarded back in 1928.
Five men – Dublin trio John Kennedy, Matt Rea and Jack Grace, Kerry’s Dick Fitzgerald and Wexford’s Sean Barrett – all captained their county to two All-Ireland wins before 1928. Kerry’s John Joe Sheehy captained Kerry before Sam was introduced in 1926 and afterwards in 1930.
But here’s the unique and historic group that O’Sullivan belongs to.
Joe Barrett (Austin Stacks) – Kerry
A Tralee native, Barrett captained Kerry to the All-Ireland title wins in 1929 and 1932. The Austin Stacks club man also won senior football titles in 1924, 1926, 1930 and 1931.
Jimmy Murray (St Patrick’s) – Roscommon
Roscommon have only won two All-Ireland senior football titles in their history which means that Murray occupies a special place in the county’s GAA narrative. In 1943 Murray captained the Rossies to a final win over Cavan before leading them the following year to a victory over Kerry.
John Joe O’Reilly (Cornafean) – Cavan
The Cavan man won 11 Ulster and two All-Ireland titles during his career. He was captain during the famous win in the Polo Grounds in 1947 and the victory the following year when Cavan retained the title.
Sean Flanagan (Ballaghaderreen) – Mayo
Mayo’s long wait for Sam Maguire stretches all the way back to 1951 when they defeated Meath. Flanagan captained Mayo to that glory, the second successive year that they had triumphed after Flanagan also lifted Sam Maguire when they overcame Louth in the final in 1950.
Enda Colleran (Mountbellew/Moylough) – Galway
Galway’s golden football era came with the three-in-a-row of 1964-1966. Colleran was captain when the 1965 final win arrived over Kerry and then the 1966 final triumph over Meath.
Tony Hanahoe (St Vincent’s) – Dublin
Hanahoe had the privilege of winning All-Ireland medals as a player and as a manager. He captained Dublin to title wins in 1976 when they defeated Kerry and then in 1977 when they got the better of Armagh.
Brian Dooher (Clann na nGael) – Tyrone
The other modern footballer on this list, Dooher captained Tyrone during the 2005 final success over Kerry and three years later he was captain again when Tyrone once more defeated Kerry in a decider.
Declan O’Sullivan (Dromid Pearses) – Kerry
O’Sullivan was captain when Kerry lost the 2005 final but South Kerry’s county title wins afforded him the opportunity to be captain once more in 2006 and 2007. On those occasions he was successful when Kerry beat Mayo in 2006 and Cork in 2007.
