Career
Born in Blackpool,, McDonnell first excelled at hurling in his youth. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of eighteen when he first linked up with the minor team, before later lining out with the under-21 side. He made his senior debut in the 2011 National Hurling League.
He has been an All-Ireland runner-up on one occasion.
At club level McDonnell plays with. Club McDonnell enjoyed his first successes with as an underage player, winning two under-16 and minor championship medals.
Reigning champions Sarsfield"s provided the opposition and went on to retain their title with a narrow 1-17 to 0-18 victory. Inter-county McDonnell first arrived on the inter-county scene when he captained the minor team in 2007.
In spite of an 0-18 to 1-11 defeat by Tipperary in the Munster decider, the sides later faced off against each other in the All-Ireland final.
McDonnell started that game on the bench, but was introduced as a substitute in "s 3-14 to 2-11 defeat. McDonnell made his senior debut on 13 February 2011 in a 1-20 to 1-15 defeat of Offaly in the National Hurling League. He subsequently joined "s championship team, making his debut on 29 May 2011 in a 3-22 to 0-23 Munster quarter-final defeat by Tipperary.
On 14 July 2013 McDonnell lined out in his first Munster decider, however, faced a 0-24 to 0-15 defeat by Limerick.
On 8 September 2013 McDonnell lined out against Clare in his first All-Ireland final. Three second-half goals through Conor Lehane, Anthony Nash and Pa Cronin, and a tenth point of the game from Patrick Horgan gave a one-point lead as injury time came to an education
A last-gasp point from corner-back Domhnall O"Donovan earned Clare a 0-25 to 3-16 draw. The replay on 28 September was regarded as one of the best in recent years.
Clare"s Shane O"Donnell was a late addition to the team, and went on to score a hat-trick of goals in the first nineteen minutes of the game.
Patrick Horgan top scored for, however, further goals from Conor McGrath and Darach Honan secured a 5-16 to 3-16 victory for Clare.