Caolan McGonagle’s presence is massive for Donegal - Conor O’Donnell

Conor O’Donnell says Caolan McGonagle’s return from injury couldn’t be more timely. 

The big Buncrana man was introduced in off the bench in Donegal’s impressive 3-26 to 0-15 hammering of Meath in Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final at Croke Park. 

And with Kerry impressively dismissing Tyrone in Saturday’s other last-four encounter, O’Donnell says it's a huge boost that Donegal’s treatment table is finally clear. 

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With their biggest and most formidable hurdle now directly in front of them, the Carndonagh ace says that is the most positive thing to take into that Kingdom tussle in a fortnight’s time. 

“Caolan is a massive player and we have missed him the last few games. It was great to see him back out on the pitch. 

“He’s put a lot of work in and the next two weeks now will only bring him on for the final.  We have one or two missing but that all looks positive now”.

O’Donnell has had his own injury worries in recent times but he’s had a clean run at the 2025 campaign and he’s been one of the side’s best performers in recent weeks, notching 1-3 in that Royal thrashing. 

“This time last year it was a low day, we were beaten by Galway and just came up short. 

“It’s great to have got back to that juncture and got over the line this time. It’s also been an injury-free season for me so far so it’s been very positive. 

“The first-half today was better than Monaghan and Louth even though we did miss a few goal chances. 

“We were up by five and the message was to keep going as we knew we were creating chances - we just needed to take them. 

“Thankfully, Oisin did and the second goal from Ciaran Moore came soon after. And that pushed us on”.