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Anthony Daly: Shane O'Donnell joined all the dots and honoured every bit of his talent

Shane introduced himself to be as a teenage tyro in 2012.

28 September 2013; Clare's Shane O'Donnell celebrates after his side's victory. GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Final Replay, Cork v Clare, Croke Park, Dublin. Picture credit: David Maher / SPORTSFILE

Fri, 02 Oct, 2026 - 16:45

Anthony Daly

When I was Dublin manager we played Clare in a challenge game at the end of the 2012 season. Challenge matches around November may seem pointless when the championship seems so far away, but you’re always looking at something, or for something. And that day, we were trialling Mikey Carton at full-back.

Mikey was a brilliant wing-back but Tomás Brady had been injured before going to the footballers and we were searching for an alternative to Peter Kelly at number 3. Mikey was always mad keen to get forward and shoot for points so he was reluctant enough to try his hand at full-back. And he was effectively done with it after that afternoon.

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