Niall O'Donnell


Niall O'Donnell is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for Naomh Adhamhnáin and the Donegal county team.
The Irish Independent's Colm Keys named O'Donnell among his "18 for 18: The brightest young talents" in Gaelic football, describing him as "both elusive and skilful".

Education

O'Donnell attended St Eunan's College, where he played for the school team. In 2016, following his Ulster minor title with Donegal, he became the eighth student from the school to win an Ulster Colleges All Star, succeeding — among others — Michael Murphy and Shaun Patton; O'Donnell played alongside Patton in the school team.

Playing career

Club

O'Donnell has captained his club at under-21 level.
He made his senior debut for his club as a replacement for John Haran in the remaining two minutes of the final of the 2015 Donegal Senior Football Championship, which his club lost by one point against Naomh Conaill.
O'Donnell's brother Conor also plays alongside him for the club.
O'Donnell, a dual player, has also played hurling for his club.

Inter-county

O'Donnell was joint-captain of the Donegal minor team with Jason McGee.
O'Donnell first featured for his county at senior level under the management of Declan Bonner. He played against Kerry as a half-time substitute in the opening fixture of the 2018 National Football League at Fitzgerald Stadium.
He did not feature on the pitch when Donegal won the 2018 Ulster Senior Football Championship, as, alongside Jason McGee, he had decided to drop down to play with the under-20 team instead.
However, O'Donnell played for the first 42 minutes in the final of the 2019 Ulster Senior Football Championship against Cavan, scoring one point and claiming his first Ulster senior title. He had made a substitute appearance against Fermanagh in the quarter-final and started in the semi-final win over Tyrone.

Honours

;Donegal
;Naomh Adhamhnáin
;Individual