Dublin’s Eoghan O’Donnell in action against Cork in the 2022 All-Ireland SFC quarter-final. Photo: Daire Brennan/Sportsfile
Whitehall Colmcille’s Eoghan O’Donnell in action against Paddy Quinn (left) and Micheal Day of Na Fianna during the Dublin SFC at Parnell Park in 2022. Photo: Ben McShane/Sportsfile
The Dublin hurler and former captain, Eoghan O’Donnell, is switching codes in 2025, pledging allegiance to the county football squad.
Dublin manager Niall Ó Ceallacháin confirmed the news that he had been informed of the player’s decision to withdraw from the hurling panel.
O’Donnell made a temporary switch in 2022 after the hurlers were eliminated from the championship and linked up with the footballers under Dessie Farrell ahead of the All-Ireland quarter-finals.
He made a brief appearance in that game against Cork, replacing Eoin Murchan after 67 minutes, but didn’t feature in the subsequent All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Kerry.
He returned to the hurling squad, as he had said he would, in 2023 and played again this year, for a while in the attack, before being restored to full-back by Micheál Donoghue who stepped away after a two-year term in early August, later taking over Galway.
Dublin’s Eoghan O’Donnell in action against Cork in the 2022 All-Ireland SFC quarter-final. Photo: Daire Brennan/Sportsfile
“It’s not something that we are very surprised by,” said Ó Ceallacháin this morning when contacted about the decision. “Eoghan has been very up front and has had an itch for a long time to have a go at the football and he has taken that opportunity now.
“We wish him well, the footballers well and we will be getting on with things.”
Ó Ceallacháin said he is pleased with the overall response from players and has the core panel still in place from this year, plus a number of fresh additions. They will return to training on December 7.
He is currently managing Na Fianna after they successfully defended their Dublin SHC title, and face Clough-Ballacolla in the Leinster club quarter-finals at Parnell Park on Sunday.
Whitehall Colmcille’s Eoghan O’Donnell in action against Paddy Quinn (left) and Micheal Day of Na Fianna during the Dublin SFC at Parnell Park in 2022. Photo: Ben McShane/Sportsfile
O’Donnell, who hurls with Whitehall Colmcilles, has been one of Dublin’s best defenders since he was first brought into the hurling squad by Ger Cunningham. He made his senior championship debut in the 2016 Leinster opener against Wexford at Croke Park, having started in all of their seven league outings.
Other high profile players like Conal Keaney, Tomás Brady, Shane Ryan and Mark Schutte have also switched codes in the past.
