Donohoe spent a lot of his time at Essendon playing in the reserves, winning their 'best and fairest' award in 1956 and 1960.
Donohue also played early in the 1957 and 1959 seasons but lost his place midyear and missed out on both losing Grand Final teams.
In 1961, Donohoe left Essendon and joined Scottsdale in the Northern Tasmanian Football Association (NTFA), as captain-coach.
During his time in Tasmania he represented the state at the 1966 Hobart Carnival.
He became captain-coach of Daylesford in 1968 and was later a committeeman at Essendon, serving as chairman of selectors from 1980 to 1986.