Before his senior breakthrough, O’Sullivan captained Kerry to a Munster minor title in 2001
He made his senior inter-county debut during the 2003 National Football League campaign
After winning his first All-Ireland in 2004, he was named Kerry captain the following season at the age of 21
And lifted the Munster title in his first season as captain with a win over Cork
A second Sam Maguire was agonisingly out of reach that year as Tyrone beat them by three points in the final
There were many better days to come and in 2006, Jack O’Connor’s side won All-Ireland number 34, beating Mayo in the final
(The Garda car was just for a visit to Crumlin Children’s Hospital, don’t worry)
Kerry won Munster again in 2007 — the fourth of O’Sullivan’s eight provincial titles with the county, and his second as captain
The All-Ireland stayed in the Kingdom that autumn, and O’Sullivan became one of just eight players to lift Sam on more than one occasion
His performances that season were recognised with the first of his three Allstars
Two more followed in 2008 (below) and 2009
After losing the 2008 All-Ireland final to Tyrone (again), Kerry bounced back to beat Cork in the 09 decider — O’Sullivan’s fourth Celtic Cross
Four more Munster titles followed in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014 before O’Sullivan signed off on the perfect high — a win against Donegal and a fifth All-Ireland winners’ medal
