When asked about his future plans, Clare’s All Star forward, Shane O’Donnell, has been as cagey about his retirement plans as he’s been dexterous on the playing field. When questioned on his stated intentions to take a hiatus and travel, voiced in November, he replied that things hadn’t changed. He lives year to year, leaving the option of competition in next year’s season open, but also rejecting any definitive statements of participation.
If O’Donnell wins the All-Ireland, would such an accomplishment influence his decision? He argues that triumph or defeat in the All-Ireland wouldn’t necessarily sway him one way or another. It’s evident that his indecisiveness isn’t due to a lack of sincerity, but rather because he honestly doesn’t know how he’ll feel after the championship.
His stance regarding retirement would be completely different if he didn’t train seasonally – retirement would likely already have occurred or at least be impending. “If I was looking at a 10- or 11-month season, I might not even be in the game anymore. If I somehow was, I would be taking a step back this year,” he conceded.
O’Donnell – who is turning 30 this year and rejoined his county team in time for the league final victory against Kilkenny – has lifted his game beyond expectations, particularly in the championship’s initial match against Limerick in Ennis and the following victory in Cork.
Three years ago, a concussion-induced break from the game set the pace for O’Donnell making a late seasonal appearance each year from March onwards. He previously explained that Clare’s manager, Brian Lohan, had invited him to resume training in January 2022. However, he waited several months before returning to follow explicit medical advice. His comeback to hurling was entirely his prerogative and no longer obstructed by any medical concerns.
Throughout his career thus far, there have been some significant highlights. In 2013, he astonished the audience at the All-Ireland final replay against Cork with a hat-trick of goals in a mere 19-minute span. Notable though it was, his career’s trajectory did not sustain at the same level — until the last two seasons saw Clare emerging as Limerick’s strongest competitors, as they clinched the top spot in the Munster table narrowly missing out on the finals.
O’Donnell’s instrumental role in these two years led to him winning his first two All Stars in 2022 and 2023. His stellar form, he believes, owes something to his prolonged breaks effectively bypassing the league. “My off season is spent staying active, hitting the gym and similar work and then approaching the March deadline, I re-enter training. Usually, it takes me three or four weeks of running sessions to get ready. When March begins, I integrate back into the team training”, explained O’Donnell.
According to him, the return to form happens rapidly. “The skills of hurling, once learned, endure. With eight to 10 years of county level play under one’s belt, one can take a hiatus and resume in a week or two. It’s a method that works exceedingly well for me. I think my absence from training for several months gives me a psychological advantage; I can infuse energy into a game because I have a performance build-up to let out during the championship”, he added.
Talking about his somewhat unconventional short training phase and whether it would pay off every year, he asserts that the same gamble is involved even with a six-month intensive training. He has even suggested his fellow seasoned players in the Clare team to consider this strategy.
O’Donnell conceded even though he doesn’t attach much significance to the league, it was crucial for Clare to bag the final in April. “Securing victory in the final was essential. I wouldn’t stress too much on a successful league run, but winning at the final is of significant importance.” Recognising Kilkenny’s past victories over them in the last two All-Ireland semi-finals, he admitted that beating Kilkenny was indeed “a significant milestone.”
After achieving fame post-2013, this former Fulbright scholar at Harvard found solace in the city of Boston. The contrast with the well-known fictional Cheers bar was what he appreciated the most; the anonymity was refreshing.
Now he is engaged in work with Sano Genetics, a company dedicated to crafting software necessary for managing clinical trials. Despite the importance of his career, he still values the opportunity for travel, a passion he always had.
He is currently immersed in what could be his final season, however, he has taken an upcoming weekend off [as Clare are not playing] to join the Darkness into Light walk.
Being the boyfriend of a clinical psychologist, he has a heightened understanding of mental health issues yet acknowledges his limitations. He has observed firsthand how mental health problems have impacted people he knows.
Shane O’Donnell shared this when shedding light on the 2024 Darkness Into Light initiative. O’Donnell has collaborated with Electric Ireland and Pieta for the Darkness Into Light event, happening on Saturday, May 11th. Interested individuals can register for this year’s event at darknessintolight.ie.