The poacher and the ’keeper
It finally happened for him two years ago, when he made his championship debut against Clare, and this season he took over the captaincy. Nobody is more pleased for him than his twin brother Micheál and his father Mike, well known as a coach operator.
It wasn't always easy for him. Back in 1992, in the company of Micheál, he won an All-Ireland minor medal, against Waterford.
The following year, when Galway captured the U-21 title, he was on the bench.
Micheál lined out at wing-back and made it through to the senior panel, where he distinguished himself for a number of years before injury cut short his career.
"He was playing senior a long time before I was, but in saying that I was in the stands roaring him on every game he played. I had to be patient, but it was worth the wait,'' he says.
Four years ago he was the reserve to Michael Crimmins, and Clarinbridge won the county championship, going on to contest the All-Ireland club final under the management of John McIntyre.
"It was hard sitting on the sideline for the 2001 final against Tipperary. You know as sub 'keeper that you're not going to see any action bar a miracle. The game was probably there for the taking. Any final you lose is a killer because it can be difficult to come back.''
While it may have taken longer than expected, at the start of this year expectations wouldn't have been very high.
For a start, there was the carry-over from the 19-point beating by Kilkenny in the All-Ireland qualifiers last July.
And there were serious doubts at one stage about Conor Hayes being allowed to continue as manager.
"After the Kilkenny game last year, there was a lot of flak flying around and if you said we'd end up in the final, you would have said we were cracked. It shows the determination of the players and the character in the team that we qualified."
He has no doubt that the reappointment of Conor Hayes made a huge difference because they needed the continuity.
A new manager would have tried to put his own stamp on the team.
Instead, Hayes kept faith with most of the squad. The hope now is they can repay that faith by winning.
Of course, Donoghue recognises that the new system this year benefited them considerably.
It gave them the games they needed to make a strong challenge and the confidence to succeed.
"When the draw was made, we had Laois, Antrim and Limerick, and they were three great games for us.
"And the way the Limerick game fell (the last in the Round Robin) really helped us. It was a game we knew we had to win and we were delighted with the way it went.''
The difference last year was that (after playing Down) they went in cold against a Kilkenny team on a mission of atonement after losing to Wexford in the Leinster semi-final.
This season, the players had a short few weeks back with their clubs after the League and since then they have had no real break.
He says the thoroughness of the preparation has been further boosted by the maturity it has helped to foster. There's "a good mix" there, with the young players who have come through in recent years and the experience of those who remain from the 2001 final against Tipperary.
"The biggest difference this year is that the players are standing up.
"They are taking on a lot more responsibility. We're not looking to management to do it for us.
"It's a case of us doing it for ourselves. Everyone is a leader.''
He jokes that it was nothing new, playing Kilkenny, to have four goals go past him in the semi-final three weeks ago.
"It was a great game, but when you are playing you are not aware of that. As a goalkeeper, you're just waiting for the next ball. You're so relieved to hear the final whistle and you don't care if it's a classic or boring as long as you come out on the right side.''
More seriously, there is an acceptance that a number of scores they conceded including some of the goals came directly from their own mistakes.
"Any day you concede 4-18 you'd be definitely be looking at your defence and your goalie.
"We know we have to tighten up.''
Asked if there was any concern that Galway may have peaked too early, he answered with another question.
"What's a peak for Galway? I don't know. We're just taking it one game at a time. We'll go out and hurl for 70 minutes and do our best. If it's good enough we'll win, if isn't we will know we have done our best.''
This team doesn't have any recent baggage against Cork, he agrees.
Nevertheless, the players are conscious of Galway's record in finals, commenting that while they won some epic semi-finals, they often failed in the finals.
"We're under no illusions. We're up against the champions and we have the utmost respect for Cork. We know we're going to have to play to the absolute maximum of our potential.''
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