Declan O'Sullivan has admitted that a series of long standing injuries has forced him to hang up his boots with Kerry.

News of O'Sullivan's inter-county retirement broke this morning via the Kerry GAA website and the decision left many surprised as he has yet to celebrate his 31st birthday.

However, the five-time All-Ireland winner has since cited his fitness as the key factor in what was a tough decision for him after 11 years with the Kingdom.

"Unfortunately, due to some long standing injuries, it would be impossible for me to physically compete at the required level in 2015," accepted O'Sullivan.

"Hopefully, after a long rest and some corrective work on my knees, I will be able to enjoy playing with my club for a number of years to come."

Along with present and past Kerry managers Eamonn Fitzmaurice and Jack O'Connor, county board chairman Patrick O'Sullivan has led the tributes for the Dromid Pearses club man, who captained the Munster kingpins to back-to-back Sam Maguire triumphs in 2006 and 2007.

"Declan played 128 senior games for Kerry, scoring a massive 16 goals and 139 points in the process and he had of course the rare and unique honour of captaining the Kingdom in back to back Sam Maguire triumphs, a feat that Kerry GAA folk are unlikely to forget," said the chairman.

He added: "As Kerry people we all owe Declan O'Sullivan a great debt of gratitude for the outstanding service he has given to the county in a career that stretches way back to his minor days in 2001.

"Declan will be a huge loss to the Kerry setup, both as a player on the field of play and on the training field and in the dressing room where his leadership qualities were never more evident than in this year's championship campaign where he nurtured the younger players around him.

"To Declan, and his family Michelle, Ollie and Robbie, I extend a sincere thank you on behalf of the Gaels of Kerry."

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