His league and championship career with the Galway senior team lasted eleven seasons from 1979 until 1989.
O'Donnell also lined out for the Galwegians rugby team and was capped 12 times by Connacht.
O'Donnell made his debut on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he was selected for the Galway minor team.
O'Donnell was also selected on the Conancht inter-provincial team, however, he ended his career without a Railway Cup medal.
In 1984 O'Donnell was selected on the Ireland team for the inaugural International Rules Series.