Key-man Donnelly a late developer

Mark Donnelly is hoping his patience and perseverance will finally pay off.

The Tyrone attacker played no part in the county’s golden era, when the Sam Maguire Cup was captured three times between 2003 and 2008. The 29-year-old failed to make the cut during the ’00s, and it wasn’t until 2010 he eventually convinced Mickey Hare he had something to offer.

He may have been a late developer, but the Carrickmore man wasted no time establishing himself as a key member of the team, linking defence to attack with his awesome workrate. Now he’s ready to grab a slice of the real action and fulfil his dream of playing in an All-Ireland final.