Donal O'Sullivan (Gaelic footballer)

Dónal O'Sullivan
Personal information
Irish name	Dónall Ó Súilleabháin
Sport	Gaelic football
Position	Full-back
Born	31 December 1930; Beara, County Cork, Ireland
Died	30 August 2001 (aged 70); Douglas, Cork, Ireland
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Nickname	Ted
Occupation	Local government official
Club(s)
Years	Club
	Lees
Club titles
Cork titles	1
Colleges(s)
Years	College
	University College Cork
College titles
Sigerson titles	0
Inter-county(ies)
Years	County
1955-1957	Cork
Inter-county titles
Munster titles	2
All-Irelands	0
NFL	1

Donal O'Sullivan (31 December 1930 – 30 August 2001) was an Irish Gaelic footballer who played at club level with Lees and at inter-county level with the Cork senior football team. He usually lined out as a full-back. O'Sullivan, who is regarded as one of Cork's all-time greatest players, also served as a Gaelic Athletic Association administrator at county and inter-provincial levels.^[1]

Born in Cork, O'Sullivan was the son of Timothy O'Sullivan, a Fianna Fáil TD and Senator. His early football career included several seasons with University College Cork in the Sigerson Cup and with the Lees club with whom he won a Cork Senior Championship medal as captain in 1955.^{[citation needed]}

O'Sullivan was later appointed captain of the Cork senior football team, leading the team to National League and Munster Championship successes in 1956. He also captained Cork to that year's All-Ireland final defeat by Galway. O'Sullivan also played Railway Cup football for Munster.^{[citation needed]}

At the age of 21 O'Sullivan became a member of the Cork County Board and was elected vice-chairman in 1970 - occupying the position for five years. In his final year he was acting vice chairman before being elected to the position in his own right for a three-year term in 1976. O'Sullivan presided over one of the most successful eras for hurling in the modern era, with the Cork senior hurling team winning three successive All-Ireland Championships during his tenure. In 1980 he was chosen as chairman of the Munster Council.^{[citation needed]}

O'Sullivan's grandsons, Niall and Rory Scannell, have represented Munster and Ireland in rugby union.^{[citation needed]}

Honours

Lees

Cork Senior Football Championship (1): 1955 (c)

Cork

Munster Senior Football Championship (2): 1956, 1957
National Football League (1): 1955-56

References

^ "Death of former Cork football captain". Hogan Stand. 31 August 2001. Retrieved 21 April 2009.

[1] "Death of former Cork football captain". Hogan Stand. 31 August 2001. Retrieved 21 April 2009.

[1]