Liam O'Donovan (Gaelic footballer)

Liam O'Donovan (born 1998) is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for Cork Senior Championship club Clonakilty and at inter-county level with the Cork senior football team. He usually lines out as a right wing-back.[1]

Liam O'Donovan

Personal information
Irish name	Liam Ó Donnabháin
Sport	Gaelic Football
Position	Right wing-back
Born	1998 Clonakilty, County Cork, Ireland
Nickname	Casey
Occupation	Teacher
Club(s)*
Years	Club	Apps (scores)
2016-present	Clonakilty	13 (0-04)
Club titles
Cork titles	0
Colleges(s)
Years	College
2016-present	University College Cork
College titles
Sigerson titles	1
Inter-county(ies)**
Years	County	Apps (scores)
2019-	Cork	5 (0-02)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles	0
All-Irelands	0
NFL	0
All Stars	0
* club appearances and scores correct as of 14:16, 29 September 2019. **Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 13:34, 29 September 2019.

Playing career

Clonakilty Community College

O'Donovan first came to prominence as a Gaelic footballer with Clonakilty Community College. He played in every grade of Gaelic football before eventually joining the college's senior hurling team and lined out in several Corn Uí Mhuirí campaigns.[2]

University College Cork

As a student at University College Cork, O'Donovan joined the senior football team during his second year. On 20 February 2019, he was an unused substitute when UCC defeated St Mary's University College by 0-16 to 1-09 to win the Sigerson Cup.[3]

Clonakilty

O'Donovan joined the Clonakilty club when at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels. On 5 October 2015, he was at left wing-back when Clonakilty defeated Bantry Blues by 3-13 to 0-08 to win the Premier 2 Minor Championship for the second time in three seasons.[4]

On 7 May 2016, O'Donovan made his first appearance for the Clonakilty senior team. He lined out at centre-back in a 0-13 to 0-14 defeat by Castlehaven in the Cork Senior Championship.[5]

Cork

Minor and under-20

O'Donovan first lined out for Cork as a member of the minor team during the 2016 Munster Championship. He was appointed vice-captain for the year and made his first appearance for the team on 13 April 2016 when he lined out at left corner-back in a 1-14 to 1-11 defeat of Tipperary.[6] O'Donovan retained his position at left corner-back when Cork suffered a 3-14 to 3-08 defeat by Kerry in the Munster final on 3 July 2016.[7]

O'Donovan was drafted onto the Cork under-21 team for the 2017 Munster Championship. He made his first appearance for the team on 15 March 2017 when he came on as a half-time substitute for Maidhcí Ó Duinnín in a 2-10 to 0-10 defeat of Limerick.[8] On 29 March 2017, O'Donovan was selected on the bench but was a late inclusion at left wing-forward when Cork suffered a 2-16 to 0-06 defeat by Kerry in the Munster final.[9]

O'Donovan was appointed captain of the Cork under-20 team for the 2018 Munster Championship. He lined out at left corner-back when Cork were defeated by Kerry by 3-11 to 0-14 in the Munster final on 29 June 2018.[10]

Senior

O'Donovan was added to the Cork senior team in advance of the 2019 season. He made his first appearance for the team on 12 January 2019 when he lined out at left wing-back in a 1-09 to 0-09 defeat by Clare in the McGrath Cup final.[11] O'Donovan made his first appearance in the National League on 27 January 2019 when he came on as a 56th-minute substitute for James Loughrey in a 1-05 to 0-08 draw with Fermanagh. On 22 June 2019, he was at left win-back when Cork suffered a 1-19 to 3-10 defeat by Kerry in the Munster final.[12]

Honours

University College Cork

• Sigerson Cup (1): 2019

Clonakilty

• Cork Premier 2 Minor Football Championship (1): 2015

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 28 September 2019.

Team	Year	Cork SHC
		Apps	Score
Clonakilty	2016	3	0-00
	2017	3	0-00
	2018	4	0-03
	2019	3	0-01
Career total		13	0-04

Inter-county

As of match played 4 August 2019.

Team	Year	National League			Munster		All-Ireland		Total
		Division	Apps	Score	Apps	Score	Apps	Score	Apps	Score
Cork	2019	Division 2	3	0-01	2	0-00	3	0-02	8	0-03
Career total			3	0-01	2	0-00	3	0-02	8	0-03

References

1. O'Toole, Fintan (12 February 2019). "Young Cork defender set to miss league games and Sigerson semi-final after knee injury". The 42. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
2. O'Callaghan, Therese (22 January 2015). "Thomas Scannell makes it safe for Clonakilty CC". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
3. O'Brien, Kevin (20 February 2019). "Sean O'Shea's haul of 0-7 helps UCC deliver first Sigerson Cup title since 2014". The 42. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
4. Bohane, John (6 October 2015). "David Lowney inspirational as clinical Clonakilty power to county crown". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
5. Cormican, Eoghan (9 May 2016). "Clonakilty prove big test for Castlehaven mettle". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
6. Moynihan, Michael (14 April 2016). "Wily Cork rise above Tipperary". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
7. O'Toole, Fintan (3 July 2016). "Clifford stars as Kerry see off Cork in six-goal Munster minor final thriller". The 42. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
8. Hurley, Denis (15 March 2017). "Super sub Hurley scores 1-3 as Cork from behind to beat Limerick and reach Munster U21 final". The 42. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
9. O'Toole, Fintan (29 March 2017). "Kerry end Munster U21 football title wait in style with emphatic 16-point win over Cork". The 42. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
10. Brennan, Paul (29 June 2018). "EirGrid Munster U20 Final: Kerry claim title". GAA website. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
11. Lynch, Derrick (12 January 2019). "Clare finish strong to see off Cork and claim first McGrath Cup title in 11 years". The 42. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
12. O'Toole, Fintan (22 June 2019). "14-man Kerry survive Cork test to remain Munster football champions". The 42. Retrieved 23 June 2019.