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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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Niall O'Donnell of Donegal in action against Christopher McKaigue of Derry
Niall O'Donnell, one of the stars of Donegal’s six-point victory over Derry on Saturday evening is back playing thanks to the Donegal medical team.
The St Eunan’s ace who took a break from the county team last season is now back and raring to play once again.
The scorer of a point in the 4-11 to 0-17 win, who also contributed handsomely from general play paid tribute to the Donegal medical team for nursing him back to full fitness.
The St Eunan’s ace missed all of the Allianz League campaign up until the Division Two final and only made his return for the final day clash with Armagh.
“I’m not a great fan of winter football. I’m a dry sod man myself, but I did not miss the McKenna Cup or the league on purpose,” he stressed.
“I picked up a hamstring injury in the club championship last year and I didn’t realise it was as bad as it was.
“I tried to come back a number of times but I kept getting setback after setback.
“It is a massive credit to the medical team of Hugh McClean, Joe O’Donnell, Dr Charlie McManus and Antoin McFadden that I’m back playing.”
But while O’Donnell is grateful to be back fit on the pitch, he admitted that it took a serious amount of work over the winter months.
“It was no easy fix either. It took months of hard work from the physios and the strength and conditioning team to get me right,” O’Donnell said.
“The fact that I missed last season and didn’t have the level of conditioning the other lads had slowed down the recovery period.
“I’m now mentally fresh. Last year I recharged the batteries and got my head right, mentally and physically.”
On the overall result last Saturday in Celtic Park, the Letterkenny man acknowledges that it is a massive step in his side’s journey, but they can’t rest until they reach their goal in Ulster.
“We got a great result today, but there was no silverware handed out,” said O’Donnell.
“That win against Derry is a massive step forward for us. But there is no point in taking one step forward and two steps back.
“We have a week to recover and get ready to go again now for the semi-final.”
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