Eoin O'Donoghue pictured at the launch of Electric Ireland's sponsorship for the Higher Education Championships. Electric Ireland’s First Class Rivals platform in 2020 aims to celebrate the unexpected alliances formed when County rivals, united by their college, come and play together in pursuit of one common goal.
By Cian O’Connell
On the eve of another Gaelic Football year, Eoin O’Donoghue is ready to embrace the next challenge.
January features important Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup duty with NUIG, while the Allianz Football League isn’t too far away for holders Mayo.
O’Donoghue has emerged as a capable and competent performer for Mayo, but the Belmullet clubman is firmly focused on delivering for the green and red in 2020.
“A personal goal of mine, and something that is probably a team goal, is to bring consistency,” O’Donoghue admits.
“I want to do that to my game personally, I want to play as many National League games this year as I can. Hopefully if I play well in those games I can push on for the Championship.
“It is the same for the group. We just want to bring that consistency through the League, Connacht Championship, and then hopefully we can push on.”
Before that, though, NUIG face a demanding Sigerson opener against UCC, but O’Donoghue is adamant Maurice Sheridan’s outfit is developing nicely.
“Definitely it is a tough draw,” O’Donoghue replies. “We've had games in the last two years when NUIG and UCC have faced off in the latter stages of the competition.
“With the way it has worked here we are ending up meeting in the first round, it is a really exciting tie for us. I think UCC will be thinking along the same lines. It is going to be a really good quality game, we are just looking forward to it.”
Mayo's Eoin O'Donoghue and Dublin's Cian O'Sullivan during the 2019 All Ireland SFC Semi-Final at Croke Park.
Following a worrying stint for NUIG, progress is now being made under Sheridan’s watch. “I think NUIG are making some very positive strides in terms of consistency,” O’Donoghue says.
“I played three or four years ago when we lost a Division Two League Final. That was my first year and the second year we ended up winning Division Two. It was really important to get NUIG back into Division One football. As well as that, progressing in the Sigerson, becoming more successful each and every year.
“It is really looking up and the more lads we can get from around Connacht attending NUIG the stronger we are going to get going forward.”
O’Donoghue credits Sheridan’s sensible approach as being a key ingredient in NUIG’s return to relevance in the Higher Education competitions.
“It is massive, Between Maurice, Don Connellan, and Paddy (Moran), the three of them were involved when I was involved in 2016 and 2017,” O’Donoghue states.
“It really brings a good bit of consistency to the team, especially with Sigerson as it can be quite difficult for even the managers to balance everything, to get their timelines right.
“To be fair to Maurice and the boys, they have done a really good job with that. They have really good relationships with all the inter-county managers. So that definitely helps and it is something that is really important when it comes to college football.”
O’Donoghue believes the Sigerson has aided his own sporting journey considerably, enabling him to be afforded opportunities for Mayo. “Definitely, the Sigerson is a great competition for guys, especially those who are possibly a bit younger,” O’Donoghue acknowledges.
“When you are playing Under 21 or that, just to get out to play Sigerson, you might be involved with some guys already playing inter-county so it is a really good experience.
Eoin O'Donoghue is looking forward to the 2020 campaign with Mayo.
“It ups your game. The guys that are involved like Maurice, he really brings a freedom to the game which helps us progress our game.”
Club wise Belmullet followed up Intermediate success by reaching the knocking stages in the Senior Championship.
Former Sligo Rovers and Cork City soccer player Gary Boylan also made a significant contribution in Belmullet’s rise.
“To be fair to Gary he is a quality player,” O’Donoghue remarks. “The skillset he possesses not many in Ireland possess that. What he can do with a football is testament to the stuff he did when he was younger, the ability that he has.
“He went down the soccer route - it didn't go exactly to plan for him. I'm very good friends with Gary, he probably wasn't happy with how the last year or two went.
“He has come back now to give the GAA a shot. Soccer is something that will help him in terms of professionalism and bringing that to the club and hopefully he will get an opportunity with Mayo.”
O’Donoghue reckons Boylan has the ability to deliver on the inter-county stage for Mayo in the future too.
“Definitely, I know Gary, he is the same age as myself,” O’Donoghue adds. “From playing alongside him all the way up along he has the ability, if he applies himself and keeps working on his game, keeps improving, he will be given an opportunity. It is something to look forward to.”
Belmullet’s improvement is a source of pride for O’Donoghue, who is delighted that the club are producing in Mayo once more.
Gary Boylan in action for the Mayo minor football team at Croke Park in 2014.
“In Belmullet we have the numbers that we should be competing, but maybe logistically it can be quite difficult to get lads together maybe for training during the week, stuff like that,” O’Donoghue comments.
“With lads working in Dublin it can be quite difficult for them to get down at weekends. I know my own father got involved when I was six or seven.
“He got involved with teams I was playing with, a lot of the guys I played with when I was six, seven, eight, nine, and 10, they are pushing on now getting involved with the Belmullet senior team.
“It is great to see that influx of youth. We had 10 or 11 lads that played in an Under 21 A Final in 2017 who ended up playing in the County Intermediate Final last year.
“We have got a lot of young lads coming through mixing with the more experienced lads like Chris Barrett and Shane Nallen, guys like that.”
Being exposed to be playing at the top grades in the underage ranks has helped Belmullet considerably according to O’Donoghue.
“In Belmullet now nearly every team is competing at A which is great to see,” O’Donoghue reflects. “A lot of the times in the past if I was playing above my age group we might be competing in B or C.
“Since I was involved in the years of lads born in 1995 or 1996 we have been competing in A all the way up, getting to County Finals and that. It definitely plays a big part. Also in the schools it helps too.”
O’Donoghue’s impact for club, college, and county shouldn’t be underestimated. Now O’Donoghue is ready to go again.
