\u2014 The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n I think it’s been a whirlwind of a couple of weeks maybe, but at the same time it’s a whirlwind preparing for an All-Ireland semi-final.<\/p>\n We just tried to focus on the game.<\/p>\n A lot of the talk coming in was just to make sure that we were aggressive and meet them at the pitch of it.<\/p>\n \n Recommended\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n The interview then took a more emotional turn as Joanne Cantwell asked O’Donnell to reflect on his remarkable Clare career.<\/p>\n It began 13 years ago when he made his championship breakthrough before announcing himself to the hurling world with an unforgettable hat-trick in the 2013 All-Ireland final replay against Cork.<\/p>\n Shane O’Donnell has won two All-Ireland titles, been crowned Hurler of the Year and collected three All Stars.<\/p>\n But immediately after such a painful defeat, he admitted he was not yet ready to look back.<\/p>\n It’s kind of hard to answer maybe directly after.<\/p>\n It’s been an honour to be able to wear a Clare jersey and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.<\/p>\n I’ve always had a somewhat trite response when people ask me about my career, that I’ll reflect on it when it’s done.<\/p>\n So I don’t have an answer for you right now.<\/p>\n Maybe in time I’ll be able to look back on it.<\/p>\n But yeah, I’ve loved every minute of it.<\/p>\n O’Donnell then paid tribute to every teammate he has shared a dressing room with during his inter-county career.<\/p>\n The guys in the dressing room, every player I’ve ever played with in the Clare jersey, I’ve been proud to stand beside them.<\/p>\n They showed that out there today and I’m always proud of wearing this jersey.<\/p>\n As the interview drew to a close, former Clare captain Anthony Daly delivered a fitting tribute to one of the county’s greatest modern hurlers.<\/p>\n From a proud Magpie to a proud townie, thank you for absolutely everything.<\/p>\n If Sunday’s defeat does prove to be the beginning of the end of O’Donnell’s Clare career, it marked the close of one of the most beloved and admired inter-county journeys of the modern era.<\/p>\n SEE ALSO: The Incident That Led To Clare’s Penalty Sparked Black Card Debate<\/a><\/p>\n
\nSEE ALSO: Colm O’Rourke Identifies Three Major Problems Galway Must Solve<\/a>
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