DECLAN O’Sullivan will be taking his first steps in inter-county coaching when he teams up with his old mentor and clubmate, Jack O’Connor, with the Kerry minor team.

This week, the Kerry minors are preparing to defend their Munster crown when they face Tipperary in the curtain raiser in Fitzgerald Stadium on Sunday.

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The five time All-Ireland winner retired from the game at the end of last year at the age of 31, citing injuries which had taken their toll over an 11 year career.

Speaking to the Irish Independent, member of the management team Eamon Whelan said; “Declan has come in on a number of occasions and done drills and some work with the forward line”.

“He has been hugely energetic; he has shown a massive passion for the game. “I think that he has been outstanding with the lads and I think that the young fellows have responded to him” said Whelan.

“So as well has helping out, in the semi-final at the Austin Stack Park against Cork (he was) the eye in the stand,” he said.

“Declan has added a new dimension and while we as a management team are very happy that we work very well together, we feel that Declan’s input has enhanced the preparations,” he said.

This leap into coaching for O’Sullivan comes as no surprise. The three time All-Star has been active on the line over the last year or so both with his club Dromid Pearses and South Kerry.