One of the best of his generation. One of the greats of Kerry football. A joy to watch.
Thanks for the memories.
Sad but expected news. The knees are in a bad way so it's the right call. Only 31, but 13 years in one of the toughest positions in the game have taken their toll. He has some record on paper but more than that, he was a leader..overcame many obstacles along the way and rose to the very top of the ladder in our game. Farewell and thanks for the memories Dec.
I suppose when you're as successful as Kerry are and have been it is easier to do, but they do show class when it comes to most things :
http://www.kerrygaa.ie/news.php?item=1735&full=y
Back to back AI winning captain says it all. Legend. His knees are fcuked I hear. Not even starting for Dromid these days. Owes Kerry nothing.
I heard this on Saturday after they lost the Junior final to Brosna. He only managed 10 minutes at the end, and was hobbling around. A great servant, and I know it hurts him badly not to be able to give Dromid a few good years. I firmly believe that had Gooch not been injured in early 2014, Declan would not have played for Kerry this year. He basically stayed on to give the young forwards a bit of leadership in the dressing room, and on the pitch when he could, because without Galvin and Gooch they were fairly exposed for experienced leader types.
He'll tell you himself he did himself no favours sometimes with the way he'd lose the rag, but I've never seen a fella so provoked in nearly every match he played, largely due to the fact that opponents knew he was prone to getting frustrated at times.
All that being said, he was a vital cog in a very successful period for Kerry, and lifted Sam twice. I saw him evolve from a raw 16 year old corner forward with a lovely left foot, via a scoring star on a great Collaiste na Sceillige team, including that battle v Jarlaths and Michael Meehan in Limerick, into one of the best ball carrying and 'set up men' in the country. His value to Kerry was immense, especially in the mid/late 00s.
He'll be missed by Kerry, and he should be missed by all followers of Gaelic Football. It's a sad week with the retirement of Stevie O'Neill above in Tyrone, and Declan O'Sullivan down the other end of the country. Two great players of the last 15 years or so.
I hope Declan can sort his knees out so that he is able to get around without being in pain as he gets older, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him tempted back to Dromid at some stage.
** Edit, I see his statement refers to inter county, my post is based on what I heard at the weekend from Dromid. Maybe he is planning on keeping going with Dromid, and his stance on Saturday was one of those frustrated evenings after a big loss late in your career.
His statement says about Dromid :
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.
Quote from: orangeman on November 19, 2014, 10:20:48 AM
His statement says about Dromid :
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.
Yeah, I see that. I think the key word might be 'Hopefully'.
Quote from: AZOffaly on November 19, 2014, 10:22:24 AM
Quote from: orangeman on November 19, 2014, 10:20:48 AM
His statement says about Dromid :
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.
Yeah, I see that. I think the key word might be 'Hopefully'.
Aye I would think it is hope more then expectation. His knees seem to be in mush alright.
I'll never forgive him for placing a few pound on them against those fighting men from Derrytresk. They were 2/7 but I thought as he was playing they would be a shoe in. I thought wrong.
Great player
Another good man gone.
Best wishes on your retirement.
Agree Rossfan. I think you sometimes forget how many great footballers have played the game over the past few years, and indeed how many we have today. Another man who may not get the credit he deserves due to injuries hindering him somewhat. Himself and O'Neill at their peaks in the same team would have been worth a look!
Quote from: AZOffaly on November 19, 2014, 10:12:09 AM
All that being said, he was a vital cog in a very successful period for Kerry, and lifted Sam twice. I saw him evolve from a raw 16 year old corner forward with a lovely left foot, via a scoring star on a great Collaiste na Sceillige team, including that battle v Jarlaths and Michael Meehan in Limerick, into one of the best ball carrying and 'set up men' in the country. His value to Kerry was immense, especially in the mid/late 00s.
The Sad thing is both Declan O'S and Michael Meehan are two quite young men with serious chronic injuries who have retired this year. Due to both being excellent footballers (who could not be replaced) they were both were (I'm sure) had pressure (for use of a better word) put on them to play with injuries rather than proper rest and recuperation.
Only for Tyrone and Derrytresk he'd have four more All Ireland medals... ho hum... :P
Quote from: From the Bunker on November 19, 2014, 07:10:05 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on November 19, 2014, 10:12:09 AM
All that being said, he was a vital cog in a very successful period for Kerry, and lifted Sam twice. I saw him evolve from a raw 16 year old corner forward with a lovely left foot, via a scoring star on a great Collaiste na Sceillige team, including that battle v Jarlaths and Michael Meehan in Limerick, into one of the best ball carrying and 'set up men' in the country. His value to Kerry was immense, especially in the mid/late 00s.
The Sad thing is both Declan O'S and Michael Meehan are two quite young men with serious chronic injuries who have retired this year.
To be fair to Meehan he was adamant to say he hasn't retired yet and just wanted to recuperate the ankle last year and he may play again in 2015. That said I don't think anyone would be too surprised if he does pack it in.
Quote from: GalwayBayBoy on November 19, 2014, 07:41:59 PM
Quote from: From the Bunker on November 19, 2014, 07:10:05 PM
Quote from: AZOffaly on November 19, 2014, 10:12:09 AM
All that being said, he was a vital cog in a very successful period for Kerry, and lifted Sam twice. I saw him evolve from a raw 16 year old corner forward with a lovely left foot, via a scoring star on a great Collaiste na Sceillige team, including that battle v Jarlaths and Michael Meehan in Limerick, into one of the best ball carrying and 'set up men' in the country. His value to Kerry was immense, especially in the mid/late 00s.
The Sad thing is both Declan O'S and Michael Meehan are two quite young men with serious chronic injuries who have retired this year.
To be fair to Meehan he was adamant to say he hasn't retired yet and just wanted to recuperate the ankle last year and he may play again in 2015. That said I don't think anyone would be too surprised if he does pack it in.
Yeah, you are correct. Both the are the same age. Both still want to play football. At their age most players expect to be playing at some level. There are similarities in their burdens. I hope what ever they do, that it is the correct thing to do for their future health and well being.
Was never the same player after he got the belt of the handbag.
Kerry, like Kilkenny, are in the habit of attacking their opponents strengths rather than their weaknesses. If this is successfully early on, they run out easy winners.
We should know. In 2004 & 2006 aside from the high ball, Declan O'Sullivan was the main weapon for Kerry running at our best athlete, James Nallen. It worked and it worked early in both games. But it took a player like O'Sullivan to do it.
Class player.
Fabulous player, my favourite from Kerry over the last decade, it's a shame that his knees have given up to the extent that he mightn't be even able to line out for his club, but all the best to him in a well earned retirement.
Quote from: longballin on November 19, 2014, 07:26:24 PM
Only for Tyrone and Derrytresk he'd have four more All Ireland medals... ho hum... :P
Actually Derrytresk didn't even win that Junior final afterwards, no guarantee Dromid would have either.
Quote from: An Fhairche Abu on November 21, 2014, 03:39:42 PM
Fabulous player, my favourite from Kerry over the last decade, it's a shame that his knees have given up to the extent that he mightn't be even able to line out for his club, but all the best to him in a well earned retirement.
Quote from: longballin on November 19, 2014, 07:26:24 PM
Only for Tyrone and Derrytresk he'd have four more All Ireland medals... ho hum... :P
Actually Derrytresk didn't even win that Junior final afterwards, no guarantee Dromid would have either.
Only for Tyrone he might have less medals. Tyrone and Armagh caused a change of manager, training and tactics for Kerry that without they mightn't have beaten Armagh in 06, Monaghan and Dublin in 07, and 3 or 4 of the games in 09.
Quote from: muppet on November 20, 2014, 01:28:36 AM
Kerry, like Kilkenny, are in the habit of attacking their opponents strengths rather than their weaknesses. If this is successfully early on, they run out easy winners.
We should know. In 2004 & 2006 aside from the high ball, Declan O'Sullivan was the main weapon for Kerry running at our best athlete, James Nallen. It worked and it worked early in both games. But it took a player like O'Sullivan to do it.
Class player.
They were pretty poor Mayo teams. It's always going to be a black mark against that Kerry team that they had a poor Mayo team in the final.
Quote from: orangeman on November 19, 2014, 09:44:48 AM
I suppose when you're as successful as Kerry are and have been it is easier to do, but they do show class when it comes to most things :
http://www.kerrygaa.ie/news.php?item=1735&full=y
Apart from losing...
This thread now has more posts than the Brian Roper retires thread.
Quote from: saffron sam2 on November 21, 2014, 10:07:27 PM
This thread now has more posts than the Brian Roper retires thread.
Thank f**k someone is keeping track of these things.
Quote from: saffron sam2 on November 21, 2014, 10:07:27 PM
This thread now has more posts than the Brian Roper retires thread.
Had a nightmare trying to mark roper in a game once.
Declan Osullivan half cut did his best to mark my missus as he was doing his best to chat her up one New Year's Eve in Waterville in front of me a decade or so ago.
Wonder if that Meehan bird from Galway I shifted nearly 20 years ago was any relation to Michael ?!
Hope Declan Osullivan gets his knees right enough to play a wee bit more for dromid. No matter the future pain, yer a long time retired!
Great player. Rolls Royce of a forward - scoring and creating !
Quote from: muppet on November 20, 2014, 01:28:36 AM
Kerry, like Kilkenny, are in the habit of attacking their opponents strengths rather than their weaknesses. If this is successfully early on, they run out easy winners.
We should know. In 2004 & 2006 aside from the high ball, Declan O'Sullivan was the main weapon for Kerry running at our best athlete, James Nallen. It worked and it worked early in both games. But it took a player like O'Sullivan to do it.
Class player.
In fairness Nallen was far from our best Athlete in 04-06, maybe circa 96-99. He was well in decline at this stage and if anything it was a weak spot for us.
An outstanding player. Good luck to him.
He brought the war to Tyrone many times. Very skillful runner in the donellan mode.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/declan-osullivan-walking-away-into-the-pantheon-of-kerry-greats-30857905.html
"Declan O'Sullivan had a radical, rebellious mind. The more you try to dominate him, the more dominant he becomes. (He) is the most stubborn of all" - Paul Galvin, In My Own Words.
Quote from: orangeman on December 23, 2014, 10:37:47 AM
http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/declan-osullivan-walking-away-into-the-pantheon-of-kerry-greats-30857905.html
"Declan O'Sullivan had a radical, rebellious mind. The more you try to dominate him, the more dominant he becomes. (He) is the most stubborn of all" - Paul Galvin, In My Own Words.
That quote has to be up there with Haughey & Bertie in the pantheon of pot/kettle quotes.
Quote from: muppet on December 23, 2014, 11:51:11 AM
Quote from: orangeman on December 23, 2014, 10:37:47 AM
http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/declan-osullivan-walking-away-into-the-pantheon-of-kerry-greats-30857905.html
"Declan O'Sullivan had a radical, rebellious mind. The more you try to dominate him, the more dominant he becomes. (He) is the most stubborn of all" - Paul Galvin, In My Own Words.
That quote has to be up there with Haughey & Bertie in the pantheon of pot/kettle quotes.
Up there alright. Surprised to see Marc Sé in a 3 way tussle for being pig ignorant alongside Galvin and O'Sullivan. I'd have thought Tomás might have run them close.
Good article all the same.
Quote from: orangeman on December 23, 2014, 07:25:14 PM
Quote from: muppet on December 23, 2014, 11:51:11 AM
Quote from: orangeman on December 23, 2014, 10:37:47 AM
http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/declan-osullivan-walking-away-into-the-pantheon-of-kerry-greats-30857905.html
"Declan O'Sullivan had a radical, rebellious mind. The more you try to dominate him, the more dominant he becomes. (He) is the most stubborn of all" - Paul Galvin, In My Own Words.
That quote has to be up there with Haughey & Bertie in the pantheon of pot/kettle quotes.
Up there alright. Surprised to see Marc Sé in a 3 way tussle for being pig ignorant alongside Galvin and O'Sullivan. I'd have thought Tomás might have run them close.
Good article all the same.
Marc O'Sé "pig ignorant"? What's your basis for this exactly?
Quote from: Ciarrai_thuaidh on December 28, 2014, 11:24:47 AM
Quote from: orangeman on December 23, 2014, 07:25:14 PM
Quote from: muppet on December 23, 2014, 11:51:11 AM
Quote from: orangeman on December 23, 2014, 10:37:47 AM
http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/declan-osullivan-walking-away-into-the-pantheon-of-kerry-greats-30857905.html
"Declan O'Sullivan had a radical, rebellious mind. The more you try to dominate him, the more dominant he becomes. (He) is the most stubborn of all" - Paul Galvin, In My Own Words.
That quote has to be up there with Haughey & Bertie in the pantheon of pot/kettle quotes.
Up there alright. Surprised to see Marc Sé in a 3 way tussle for being pig ignorant alongside Galvin and O'Sullivan. I'd have thought Tomás might have run them close.
Good article all the same.
Marc O'Sé "pig ignorant"? What's your basis for this exactly?
Meant as a compliment and definitely not an insult. Forgive my poor use of language here.
You should have just called him an animal.