**By Daragh Ó Conchúir **

Declan O’Sullivan has spoken of how he used the barracking he received from a section of Kerry supporters in 2006 as motivation for the remainder of his stellar career.

The winner of five All-Irelands, two as captain, O’Sullivan also reveals how he gave up his job to prepare for the rest of the campaign, and tells of how the closing minutes of the 2012 All-Ireland represent one of his biggest regrets.

His inter-county career ended on a high though, playing his 70th game as a substitute in Kerry’s All-Ireland final success – a win he describes as “the sweetest feeling”, better than his first, or his two as captain.

Speaking on Laochra Gael (TG4, 5.55pm Sunday), O’Sullivan addresses the shocking reaction of some of his county’s followers to his substitution in the 2006 Munster final replay against Cork – a reaction described by manager and clubmate Jack O’Connor as “scandalous” and by former team-mate Dara Ó Cinnéide as “shameful”.

“For me, there was still a big hangover from 2005,” said O’Sullivan, referencing Kerry’s All-Ireland final loss to Tyrone, when he was captain. “I knew I was in a rut and you’re trying hard to get out of it. It’s not happening and you’re getting frustrated. It’s a kind of a snowball effect.

“It wasn’t ‘til I got to the dugout I realised ‘This is after happening here’ and it really hit me hard. That time made me appreciate my friends and family, they were really good to me at the time.

“And even the older lads. I remember Séamus Moynihan grabbing hold of me that night and saying, ‘You’re plenty good enough, just drive through it” and I knew myself that if I could get through this, mentally, it would really stand to me.

He gave up work to get himself in shape for the rest of the championship and it paid dividends as he won his place back in the side.

“I trained like a dog those summer months after the Munster final. I was a full-time athlete. Everything was geared towards training at seven o’clock Tuesday and Thursday evening. I’d get up in the morning, I’d eat well, I’d go for a nap in the middle of the day.

“I’ve no doubt in my mind that if I didn’t make that decision to step away from work at that time, there is no way I’d have been able to get myself right to get on the team.”

Despite being so successful, O’Sullivan readily admits to looking back on disappointments, such as having a shot saved late on that might have won the 2008 All-Ireland. It is the loss to Dublin four years later that hurts most though.

 

The South Kerry man may have been suffering from the effects of a heavy challenge by Ger Brennan when he gave the ball away seven minutes from time and was unable to prevent Kevin McManamon from scoring the match-turning goal.

“McManamon went past me very, very easy for that goal. If there’s one thing that will always stay with me and one of my big regrets, it’s that whole sequence.”

His last game in the green and gold made up for it though.

“I must say the feeling when the final whistle went in 2014 was the sweetest feeling. Even better than when I first won it ‘04, better than I was captain in ’06 or ’07.

“I knew it was my last one. It was just a very emotional time. It was a first time as well the crowd wasn’t allowed onto the field and I think that’s one of the best things (the GAA) have done. Because before you’d get maybe 30 seconds with your teammates and then it’s mayhem.

“After about a minute, I thought of my son and I went to look for him. To bring him out on the field was the icing on the cake. It capped off a really special year for me.

“My proudest moment in a Kerry jersey is having my son in my arms lifting the Sam Maguire. If you look at the picture I’m just about managing to hold back the tears. That’s hanging up on my wall at home and it’s something that will stay with me forever.”

*** 

Laochra Gael, TG4, Sunday, 5.55pm