During his studies at Mary Immaculate College, O'Donovan was selected at midfield for the college's senior hurling team during his second year. On 27 February 2016, he won a Fitzgibbon Cup medal as Mary I won their first ever title after a 1-30 to 3-22 defeat of the University of Limerick. O'Donovan was at right wing-forward when Mary I retained the title in 2017 following a 3-24 to 1-19 defeat of Carlow Institute of Technology.
Club
O'Donovan joined the Doon club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels, enjoying championship success in under-12, under-14 and under-15 grades. As a member of the club's minor team, he won back-to-back championship medals in 2012 and 2013 following respective defeats of Patrickswell and Na Piarsaigh. O'Donovan subsequently made his senior championship debut for the club.
Inter-county
Minor and under-21
O'Donovan first played for Limerick at minor level. On 23 July 2013, he was at midfield when Limerick won their first Munster Championship title in 29 years after a 1-20 to 4-08 defeat of Waterford. O'Donovan joined the Limerick under-21 hurling team in 2014. In his second season he won a Munster Championship medal after a 0-22 to 0-19 win over Clare in the final. On 12 September2015, O'Donovan was at midfield when Limerick defeated Wexford in the All-Ireland final. He ended the season by being named on the Bord Gáis EnergyTeam of the Year.
Senior
O'Donovan made his senior debut for Limerick on 13 February 2016 in a National League defeat of Wexford. Later that season he made his first championship start in a 1-24 to 0-18 defeat by Westmeath. O'Donovan missed most of the 2018 National League after sustaining a broken finger. On 19 August2018, O'Donovan scored a point from midfield when Limerick won their first All-Ireland title in 45 years after a 3-16 to 2-18 defeat of Galway in the final. O'Donovan ended the season by being nominated for an All-Star Award. On 31 March 2019, O'Donovan was selected at midfield for Limerick's National League final meeting with Waterford at Croke Park. He collected a winners' medal after scoring a point from a line ball in the 1-24 to 0-19 victory. On 30 June2019, O'Donovan won a Munster Championship medal as a non-playing substitute following Limerick's 2-26 to 2-14 defeat of Tipperary in the final.
