Naomh Conaill lure proving impossible for O'Donnell to resist

Ethan O’Donnell is back for Naomh Conaill once again and the former county star is hoping for a deeper push into the championship after losing out in the quarter-finals last year.

Working in construction in Perth, it’s O’Donnell’s third year Down Under, but he has come back for the Donegal SFC every year since.

And after an early exit by Naomh Conaill’s standards last year, losing out in the quarter-final of the Donegal SFC to eventual winners St Eunan’s, he’s hopeful of getting further down the line this year.

Playing with St Finnbarr’s in Perth, one of his teammates out there was his midfield opponent from Saturday’s win over Killybegs in Evan Broderick, and there is a good level of competition in the southern hemisphere, but it’s a different ballgame compared to the knockouts of the Donegal championship.

“I’m back home for a few things but the football was definitely one of them, so I’ll be heading back out to Australia once it’s all done.

“Evan is there as well and Kieran Gillespie, Odhran McFadden-Ferry was there before he came back for Donegal, and Jamie McGee is there too so there’s a good clique of us there.

“I’m in holiday mode, but I’m just training away. I was training when I was over there with St Finnbarr’s over there and Evan is with them too so you’re doing the same as over here, training twice a week and playing at the weekend, which is good.

“But it is a lift coming back to the championship here. My first game back was Downings and I’m getting there. 

“We’re coming down to the crunch of it now with knockout football straight away and you have to be on point but thankfully (Martin) Regan gave me the shout and I was more than happy to come back again after last year.

“Games are tighter and there’s no such thing as a big four anymore. Walking off the pitch and chatting to the boys, we were saying the games are never dead. We were ten points up but you’re still on edge. If that was last year, you would be saying it’s over but I like that. It’s good to see that there are so many teams competing and wanting to be there and pushing hard.”

Naomh Conaill had a bit of a scare early on as twice in the first half Killybegs hit 1-2 in quick succession in the preliminary quarter-final in Ardara.

But they still hit the last 1-5 before the break to lead by five at half-time and eventually won by eight.

“Hugh (McFadden) at the edge of the square is a problem for any team, club or county. The high ball in got tangled up and bounced over Stephen (McGrath’s) head, but if he’s in there, then he can make stuff happen without even touching the ball.

“But we regrouped well. I thought our tackling and pressing once we settled was good. We turned them over five or six times out of their half, and we tagged on points, which is a real sickener for them.

“They battled through the whole way, and you’re still never comfortable even at ten up, because a two pointer and a goal and you’re back to five.”

The Naomh Conaill team in recent years has typically almost picked itself, but their depth has improved with O’Donnell returning for the Downings game in round three, while Kieran Gallagher also returned from Canada earlier this year.

The emergence of Finnbarr Roarty has also been a huge boost, while youngster Shea Malone scored two goals at the weekend, along with Donegal Under-20 duo Max Campbell and Mark McDevitt making an impact off the bench.

READ NEXT: Donegal set to be without three-time Ulster medal winner for 2026 season

And it is a needed boost after the loss of their talisman Ciarán Thompson, who will be out for the entire club season.

And with the quick turnaround to this weekend as they meet Termon at O'Donnell Park at 4pm on Sunday in the quarter-final, O’Donnell is welcoming the weekly run of games.

“I played with Finnbarr two or three times last year, but it’s my first time playing with the likes of Shea and Max Campbell, and they are flying. Shea is taking men on, and Max is throwing himself about.

“He was doing that for the Under-20s too, Mark McDevitt also, another young fella and it’s great to see them coming through and they’ll take on the reins in the future.

“I was devastated for Ciarán. I was watching the final over in Perth, and it was devastating when I saw him go down and what the injury was. He’s a massive player for us, but we know what we need to do, and everyone is willing to step up and get the job done.

“Unfortunately it’s without him, but our aim is still to go deep into this championship.

“I’m here to play football and playing games is better than training on the weekend, and we have a game next weekend again. We can’t rest, and we’ll just see where it takes us from here.”