Shane O’Donnell - living the dream with Donegal

It’s been quite the year for Shane O’Donnell. The St Eunan’s man won Division 2 National League and Ulster senior championship medals and even if 2024 ended in disappointment, he has been on top form in 2025, scoring his first goal at senior level when Donegal met Derry in the National League in Ballyshannon.

On Sunday he will be one of the big Donegal threats when Donegal lock horns with Derry again in the preliminary round of the Ulster senior championship in MacCumhaill Park (2 p.m.)

When you throw in winning a Donegal SFC medal and being named Player of the Championship, you have to agree that the 23-year-old is at the top of his game.

The forward is also relishing the new rule enhancements that give forwards some more freedom.

“The new rules are good. It's a bit of change that maybe Gaelic needed. At the minute everybody seems to be happy enough with them. I suppose it just took a while to get used to them between doing them in training and then bringing them into the game and what not. 

“The main one for me would be the three up and four back rule. I know we had a bit of bother with the game down in Galway with the red cards and black cards and another few games like that but they fixed that after the fifth round. Overall I'm happy enough. The main one for me is the four back and the three up just because it stops teams putting up a blanket. It helps you get more scores on the board and makes for a more entertaining game from a spectator's point of view,” said O’Donnell, who also feels that the importance of discipline cannot be understated.

“That's going to be huge. And so are the verbals with the referee and with the advantage so big of bringing the ball 50 metres forwards. The importance of discipline probably is the big thing to really take away from the rule changes. 

“Any verbals or any indiscipline is nearly going to cost you the game nearly with the way the rules are at the minute. You definitely can't afford to lose any men from the pitch.”

The St Eunan’s man says that working at home has made things much more enjoyable.

“The big one for me this year is just being able to be at home. I'm teaching now over in Raphoe which is not too far from home and it's been going well. 

“The last couple of years I was in Dublin studying in DCU so being able to be at home has been a big massive help even in terms of getting the preparation right in terms of nutrition and recovery and being able to get to training on time and what not. I've noticed a big change this year compared to other years.”

The young forward is happy to have Michael Murphy back in the side. “My first year in was Michael's last year. It's great to have him back on board because I know what sort of leadership and experience he can bring to the team. Even just having him in the changing room has already been a big, massive help. You can see the impact that he's made in the games that he's played so far in the year. It's great to have him and it's a great lift to Donegal.”

Looking forward to Sunday, O’Donnell says it has been a quick turnaround from the league but they will give it everything.

“Yeah, it’s been a quick turn around after the League and we'll be throwing everything we can at it. That's the only game we're worrying about for the year. Anything after that is a bonus, we're just totally focused on Derry like we did last year. 

“We went to try to nail the game-plan and have everybody right and fit because we're going to need everybody we can get for that game. The preparation started last night so we'll see how we get on.”

O’Donnell knows that Donegal are favourites for Sunday, but every game in the Ulster championship is a dangerous one.

“Every game in Ulster is going to be a big, massive challenge. You can't take any of the games for granted. You look back at other years before I was even involved and you had Cavan winning an Ulster championship and beating us and even Fermanagh and what not. You can't take any games for granted and that's why the only game we're worrying about this year is the Derry one.”

While he likes to play around the middle of the field he is also aware that the game is much changed from his young days.

“I suppose growing up I was always around the middle of the park. Anywhere around there probably suits me best. I know a few games last year I was wing-back at the start of the championship and then I was wing-forward and then I was centre-half forward for a few games. 

“To be honest, I'll just take getting a jersey and getting playing, that's the main thing. I suppose my preference would be around the middle. Around that area is my best position.”

On Sunday he is likely to wear one of the half-forward jersey numbers but you can expect to see O’Donnell anywhere on the pitch. He says  it is a bit surreal now being coached by Jim McGuinness, Colm McFadden and Neil McGee and playing alongside Michael Murphy, after watching them from the stands when growing up.

“Listen, they know their stuff, it's great to have them and we're taking our learnings from each of them individually. It's a great lift for Donegal in general to have them on board,” says O’Donnell.