Christy O'Connor: Eoghan O’Donnell return offsets Dublin’s disappointment 

Of the five Clare players Eoghan O'Donnell directly came up against on Sunday, he only conceded two shots.

Eoghan O'Donnell, one of Dublin's best hurlers, has returned to the county hurling panel after a stint with the footballers. Pic: John Sheridan/Sportsfile

On the day that Dublin sensationally beat Limerick in last year’s All-Ireland quarter-final, Eoghan O’Donnell had already made up his mind as to his next move. As the Dublin footballers beat Cork over an hour later on the same pitch, O’Donnell was sitting on the substitutes bench.

When Dublin subsequently lost to Tyrone in the All-Ireland quarter-final, O’Donnell didn’t see game-time for the third successive match. Having lost his place earlier in the championship, O’Donnell’s last involvement of the summer was a late cameo appearance against Armagh when the Dubs were trailing by 0-8.