Mickey "Ned" O'Sullivan (born 14 April 1952) is an Irish former Gaelic football manager, selector and former player.
His league and championship career at senior level with the Kerry county team spanned ten seasons from 1971 to 1980.
Born in Kenmare, County Kerry, O'Sullivan was educated at Coláiste Íosagáin in Ballyvourney where he played Gaelic football.
By this stage O'Sullivan had also joined the Kenmare club team, with whom he won three county intermediate championship medals.
O'Sullivan made his debut on the inter-county scene at the age of eighteen when he was selected for the Kerry minor team.
Over the course of the next ten seasons, O'Sullivan won three All-Ireland medals, beginning as captain in 1975 and ending with victories as a non-playing substitute in 1978 and 1980.
He was educated at the local national school before later attending the Irish-speaking Coláiste Íosagáin in Ballyvourney, County Cork, to which he returned in the 1970's as a PE and Geography teacher.
After completing his Leaving Certificate, O'Sullivan travelled to London where he studied physical education at St. Mary's University.
At underage level O'Sullivan won a Towns Cup title in 1968, before later winning three intermediate county championships in 1968, 1970 and 1972.
The Kerrymen recorded a comprehensive victory, giving O'Sullivan a Munster winners' medal in the minor grade.
In 1972 he missed Kerry's provincial decider triumph, however, he returned in time for the clash against Galway in the All-Ireland final.
[6] He was later a non-playing substitute as Kerry went on to claim the Munster title but lose the All-Ireland final to Offaly after a draw and a replay.
Things began to change in 1975 as Mick O'Dwyer took over as Kerry manager and O'Sullivan was appointed captain for the year.
Reigning champions Dublin provided the opposition and were installed as the red-hot favourites over the youngest Kerry team of all-time.
[9] In spite of claiming the championship the final was a disappointing affair for O'Sullivan as he became the only All-Ireland winning captain since the Sam Maguire Cup was first presented not to collect the famous trophy.
He was knocked unconscious seventeen minutes into the first-half and woke up in a Dublin hospital when the match was long finished.
Immediately after the game started he careered through the Kerry half-back and full-back lines but his shot at goal went wide.
He played just a few championship games over the next few years because he was unable to hold down a regular place on what was quickly becoming the greatest football team of all-time.
Once again, the southern province proved too strong and a 2–15 to 2–8 score line gave O'Sullivan a second consecutive Railway Cup medal.
[11] In late 1989 O'Sullivan had the unenviable task of succeeding the great Mick O'Dwyer as manager of the Kerry senior football side.
A narrow 0–23 to 3–12 defeat of Limerick gave Kerry the Munster title for the first time since 1986 and restored some respect to the county team.
[12] While in other years Kerry would have forged ahead and contested the All-Ireland decider, a two-point defeat by Down in the semi-final saw O'Sullivan's side exit the championship at the penultimate stage.
[13] The dual manager enjoyed a bumper season as the Kerry under-21 team retained their provincial title with a narrow 1–8 to 0–10 defeat of Cork.
In 2014 he coached Colaiste Ghobnatan to success in the inaugural All Ireland Post Primary C Final with a victory over Ardee Community School.
Louth provided the opposition, however, for the second year in succession O'Sullivan's side were beaten by a single point and exited the All-Ireland hunt.
The Leesiders somehow grabbed two quick goals which changed the game completely and resulted in another narrow Limerick loss.
A remarkable 4–12 to 4–3 trouncing of Meath in the qualifiers gave Limerick the chance to advance to the second round of the series where Kildare were next up.
After a disappointing league campaign championship, victories arrived over a fancied Tipperary side and Clare which meant Limerick qualified for a first Munster final since 2005.
They once again opened their championship with a victory over Clare to qualify for their 2nd Munster final in a row where they faced 2009 All-Ireland champions Kerry.