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FORMER Kerry star Declan O’Sullivan is the chosen one to succeed John Sugrue as manager of the Kerry under 20 side.
County Board Chairman, Tim Murphy, confirmed that he will be proposing that the Dromid Pearses clubman be ratified for a two-year term at the next county committee meeting to be held in January.
Murphy said the proposal was unanimously supported by the executive of the Kerry County Board at a meeting yesterday.
The holder of five All-Ireland medals, O’Sullivan (37) made his championship debut against Tipperary in 2003 and he has the distinction of being one of only eight players to lift the Sam Maguire more than once (2006 and 2007).
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In all he made 70 championship appearances for Kerry, the last of which was in the 2014 All-Ireland defeat of Donegal when he was introduced as a second half sub to win his fifth Celtic cross. He won three consecutive GAA All-Star awards between 2007 and 2009.
Though plagued with injury this year, he still played an outstanding role in Kerry’s championship success and few will forget his display in the Munster final defeat of Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh in July.
Declan also has the distinction of lining out in every position on the forward line for Kerry in senior championship.
On the club scene he was no less successful winning county and Munster Junior medals and four senior county championship titles with divisional side South Kerry as well as an All-Ireland inter-firm championship with Liebherr Container Cranes of Killarney.
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His former Kerry manager, Eamonn Fitzmaurice, said Declan’s honesty, the warrior like way he led by example and his innate football ability meant his team mates loved him.
“He also has a stubborn streak that meant he always fought his corner obstinately, be it in an argument or to win a breaking ball that might turn a game,” Fitzmaurice said.
Among those understood to be in contention to join O’Sullivan’s backroom team are his former team-mates Aidan O’Mahony and Seán O’Sullivan as well as former Dr Crokes star John Galvin who managed the Dromid man when in change of the South Kerry divisional team.
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