Shane O’Donnell on Éire Óg’s long wait, battling injury, and the prospect of a return next year

Until now, Shane O’Donnell’s career highlight was an Under-15 B championship with Éire Óg

Tue, 07 Oct, 2025 - 02:45

Maurice Brosnan

In the match programme before the Clare SHC final, players were asked for their career highlight to date. A host of the intercounty stars involved, the likes of David Reidy, Peter Duggan and Ryan Taylor, opted for the same answer. Shane O’Donnell didn’t.

While his county team-mates pointed to the 2024 All-Ireland triumph, O’Donnell’s choice was more modest: success with Éire Óg, an Under-15 B championship. He was part of the panel that won the intermediate title in 2011 and on Sunday, he clipped two points to help end a 35-year wait for a senior title and deny Clooney-Quin.

“When you have an opportunity, especially in Clare, you only get so many years where you are at the peak of your powers,” he said afterwards, amid the wild celebrations.

“This year now, we have a brilliant mix of older players who are probably coming to the end and younger players who are coming in and really making a difference, including all the subs. So, you're aware that you have only a couple of years when you have that nice mix.

“That kind of opportunity might slip. But at the same time, I genuinely don't feel there was a pressure inside the panel. Maybe there was outside, but no, I don't really feel there was.”

They had endured a heartbreaking defeat in 2022, which only lengthened the wait, but O’Donnell was determined that the group would savour this special day. Various players brought their children for the pre-match photo and parade.

“I definitely made a case of just in the parade, going around, make sure you look into the crowd and look at the people who are actually there.

“Because in the club, you recognise everyone there. It's not like when you look in the crowd with Clare, where it's just people shouting at you. But here, it is every person you look at, you know who they are.

“It is brilliant to just see them there. And after the match today, just seeing everyone going around that you have been training with or have trained you for 30 years, it is incredible.”

🗣️ "I didn't think Éire Óg would have been in a position to fight for this when I was underage."@CLGEireOgInis and @GaaClare star Shane O'Donnell reacts to his side being crowned the 2025 TUS Clare Senior Hurling champions.

Coverage in association with @LiamClearyAuto @TUS_ie… pic.twitter.com/ifydW9GXgd
— StreamSport.ie (@StreamsportI) October 5, 2025

The 2024 Hurler of the Year missed a lengthy spell this season because of a labrum tear in his shoulder. He returned for Clare in the final two rounds of the Munster Championship and suggested he’s likely to come back again in 2026.

“Not absolutely decided but it’s probably very likely. There was a lot of... I realistically shouldn't have approached the year the way I did with rushing the shoulder back. I ended up having a lot of injuries that I've been carrying through the year. So I'm just hoping I can clear them.”

He continued: “Just overuse injuries. Osteitis pubis, cartilage tears in my knee, things like that. Nothing that is a huge issue, but just a lot of things to be carrying.”

It was only after the outpouring of emotion in 2022 that O’Donnell realised how much the club means to the town. The scenes on Sunday underlined that again and the full meaning will take time to sink in. He knows what it surpasses, though.

“Above the U15B anyway,” the 31-year-old said with a smile.

“It is the third medal I have won with the club. It's definitely at the top of those three.

“My first year we were actually an intermediate club and I actually didn't play that game because I broke my finger. So I only won on the pitch a medal, an Under-15B. But compared to everything, it is very hard to say.

“There is certainly a recency bias there. It is very hard to look past this as being definitely one of the best days I've spent on the pitch. It is just phenomenal.”

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