O’Donnell ecstatic after successful trip home from Oz

BY MATTHEW WILSON

ETHAN O’Donnell is delighted that his trip home from Down Under has been made worthwhile as Naomh Conaill secured the Dr Maguire Cup on Sunday.

The Glenties men battled back in normal time to force an additional 20 minutes where they went six points up.

Gaoth Dobhair had an opportunity to send the tie to a replay late on but O’Donnell was pleased to see the last-gasp shot drop short.

“We dug deep. Seven down at half time and we just knew it was still there. We got out and we got at them early with the goal then and we kicked on from there.

“We went six points up and we took the foot off the gas. Gaoth Dobhair had the shot to level it at the end through Ethan (Harkin) but thankfully it dropped short into big Kieran’s (Gallagher) hands. We’re delighted now to be county champions”.

The Naomh Conaill midfielder is located in Perth in Australia but flew home to take to the field for Martin Regan’s side for the championship.

After a disappointing trip home 12 months ago. O’Donnell is delighted that this trip across the world was worthwhile, helping his club to land their eighth senior crown on Sunday.

With an Ulster campaign on the horizon, the return home may have to be delayed for another couple of weeks.

“I came back, I was only delighted to come back and that made it worthwhile now. Last year it wasn’t worth coming back, going out in the quarter-final. We’ll do some celebrating tonight and we might put off going back to Australia for another few weeks”, said O’Donnell.

He continued, “We’re delighted. Both teams winning especially, reserve and senior.

“It’s not done that often, we did it ourselves in 2022 and we’re just making history doing it again this year under the new rules.

“People said this Naomh Conaill team is finished, the new rules don’t suit them. This Naomh Conaill team won a championship so we’re delighted.”