O'Sullivan to remain as Kerry captain

Dromid Pearses clubman Declan O'Sullivan have been nominated to captain Kerry's senior footballers for the second season in a row.

O'Sullivan, who turned 22 last month, was given the nod by the South Kerry senior champions Valentia, who beat Pearses in last month's final in Caherciveen.

By right, the winners of the Kerry county title appoint the Kingdom's senior, minor and Under-21 captains for the following season, but as the 2005 champions were South Kerry, a divisional side, the honour fell to the Islanders.

Talented forward O'Sullivan, who made his championship debut for Kerry against Tipperary in 2003, took on the captain's armband twelve months ago when Dromid, as South Kerry champions, picked him for the role.

Valentia have no representative on the current Kerry senior panel so they opted again for O'Sullivan, who will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of the Valentia brickhouse, Mick O'Connell, this season.

O'Connell was South Kerry's last All-Ireland winning captain - managing the feat back in 1959 against Galway.

Bryan Sheehan of St Mary's has been appointed as vice-captain under O'Sullivan. The Kerry Under-21 captain is yet to be decided as the panel has not yet been confirmed for the 2006 season. Waterville's Paddy Curran has been selected as minor captain.