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| Born | 1 January 1997 [1] [2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Sport | Gaelic football | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Half-back/Half-forward | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ethan O'Donnell (born 1 January 1997) is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for Naomh Conaill and the Donegal county team.
He played for his county at minor,under-21 and senior level. [3] He can play at half-back or half-forward. [2]
O'Donnell scored the winning point for Donegal against Dublin in the 2014 All-Ireland Minor Football Championship semi-final. [4] Aged 17 and a year younger than many of his teammates,he was used as an impact substitute during that campaign before starting the final against Kerry. [2]
O'Donnell scored a goal in the 2017 Ulster Under-21 Football Championship final victory over Derry,helping Donegal get its first under-21 title since 2010. [5]
O'Donnell was involved with the county senior panel in the 2017 and 2020 seasons but did not play much in either season. [3] He made a substitute appearance for Donegal against Kerry in the opening round of the 2017 National Football League [6] as well as in the last round of the delayed 2020 National Football League,against the same opposition. [7]
The 2021 season marked O'Donnell's breakthrough for his county team. [3] He made a substitute appearance against Tyrone in the opening game of the 2021 National Football League. [3] He also appeared in four of the six other games Donegal played (in a shortened season due to the COVID-19 pandemic). [3] Then an injury to Peadar Mogan gave him the opportunity to play against Dublin in the National Football League semi-final. [3] O'Donnell also started the 2021 Ulster Senior Football Championship quarter-final against Derry. [3]
O'Donnell did not participate in Donegal's 2023 season. [8]
O'Donnell put in a man-of-the-match performance in the final of the 2023 Donegal Senior Football Championship. [9]
After this,O'Donnell based himself in Perth in Western Australia. He flew home especially to play in the 2024 Donegal SFC,but his club lost the final. [10] He flew back from Perth again to play for his club in the 2025 Donegal SFC,when his club won the final,with O'Donnell playing the entirety of that game. [11] [12]
[Conor Doherty] is now 24, and with a birthday on New Year's Day, he jokes that he held on for a bit longer to get an extra year at minor level. Interestingly, he is just two hours older than Naomh Conaill's Ethan O'Donnell. The pair know each other well, and there are no secrets between the two teams at this stage.Further details in the print edition.
…who turned 25 on New Year's Day. 'This is my third year under Declan now and I had a year under Rory as well'… O'Donnell has played in each of Donegal's four games so far this year, but only started one, against Antrim. However, he came off the bench and made a telling difference against Monaghan in the McKenna Cup final last week… O'Donnell can play in the half-back line or half-forward line and he is viewed as one of the 'transition' players who now have vital roles in the team.Further details in the print edition.
O'Donnell has two county senior medals to his name already and the versatile player would like to add another to his collection. His team have already earned some silverware this year after winning their seven league games, but the Dr Maguire Cup is the one they want… O'Donnell heads into the county final after a breakthrough season with the Donegal seniors. He was involved with the Donegal panel in 2017 and 2020, but found his game time limited. However, he came on in the first league match against Tyrone this year, and ended up featuring in five of the seven games that the county side played… 'Peadar Mogan got injured before the Dublin match and I got my wee break then'... O'Donnell started against Dublin in the league semi-final, and he was thrown in from the off against Derry in the Ulster quarter-final… Between senior, under-21 and minor county football, he has played with many of the Kilcar side and seen[sic] them up at close quarters…Further details in the print edition.
2:45PM · 31 AUG 14 · Donegal 1–12 Dublin 1–11: 58 mins — A free breaks to Donegal sub Ethan O'Donnell and he blasts it over the bar. Donegal lead — can Dublin find the equaliser?
7. Ethan O'Donnell (Naomh Conaill) O'Donnell wasn't involved with Donegal in 2023…
Man of the match O'Donnell's brilliant run set up McGuinness' 46th-minute goal…
The Naomh Conaill midfielder is located in Perth in Australia but flew home to take to the field for Martin Regan's side for the championship. After a disappointing trip home 12 months ago, O'Donnell is delighted that this trip across the world was worthwhile, helping his club to land their eighth senior crown on Sunday.