She represented her country at the 1956 Summer Olympics and 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, winning a silver medal in the high jump at the latter event.

[3] At an athletics meet in Te Aroha in January 1955, Donaghy jumped 4 ft 11 in (1.50 m) at an event won by the national champion, Noelene Swinton, who suggested that Hayward should seek coaching from Frank Sharpley.

[3] After just one session with Sharpley, Hayward leapt 5 ft 3+1⁄8 in (1.60 m) at the Thames Valley children's championships in February 1955, breaking the New Zealand women's high jump record.

[1][5] At the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Donaghy cleared a height of 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m), the same as the winner, Michele Brown of Australia, but was awarded the silver medal on a countback.

[3][6] Donaghy also competed in the long jump, placing fifth with a distance of 18 ft 11 in (5.77 m),[7] and was part of the New Zealand women's 4 x 110 yard relay team (with Beverly Weigel, Margaret Stuart and Marise Chamberlain) that finished fourth in the final.