Patrick Joseph O'Donovan (15 March 1916 – 11 June 1990) was an Irish hurler who played as a right corner-back for the Cork senior team.
Having been granted a walkover by the same opposition two years earlier, Glen Rovers faced Carrigtwohill in the county decider of 1937.
The dominance continued and a 3–5 to 1–0 score line gave O'Donovan a Cork Senior Hurling Championship medal.
In 1938 Glen Rovers set out to make history by besting Blackrock's twenty-five-year-old championship record.
The success continued once again the following year as Glen Rovers faced Blackrock in their first championship decider meeting in almost a decade.
In one of the most high-scoring county finals of all time, O'Donovan won his fourth championship medal following a 10–6 to 7–5 defeat of Sars.
In a game that set them apart from all other teams, the Glen continued their stranglehold of club hurling in Cork by claiming the victory following a 4–7 to 2–2 defeat of Ballincollig.
Nine-in-a-row proved beyond the team and Glen Rovers released their grip on club hurling in Cork for a few of years.
The Glen made it two-in-a-row in 1945 with O'Donovan adding a seventh championship medal to his collection as divisional side Carrigdhoun were bested by 4–10 to 5–3.
Fierce south side rivals St. Finbarr's provided he opposition, however, a convincing 2–8 to 0–5 victory gave O'Donovan his tenth championship medal.
In 1939 O'Donovan was include don the starting fifteen again as Cork made a breakthrough in the provincial championship after nearly a decade in the doldrums.
In a one-sided affair goals by Johnny Quirke and Ted O'Sullivan helped Cork to a 5–11 to 0–6 victory.
The year got off to a good start when Cork defeated Limerick by 4–6 to 3–6 after a replay to give O'Donovan, who came on as a substitute, a fourth Munster medal.
Under the captaincy of Christy Ring, Cork subsequently faced old rivals Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final.
With ten minutes remaining Cork's lead was reduced to just two points, however, goals by Mossy O'Riordan and Joe Kelly secured the victory.
Cork retained their provincial dominance in 1947 with O'Donovan picking up a sixth winners' medal following a three-point victory over Limerick.
A Joe Kelly goal put Cork one point ahead with time almost up, however, Terry Leahy proved to be the hero of the day.
A thrilling Munster quarter-final replay defeat by Tipperary in 1949 brought the curtain down on O'Donovan's inter-county career.
On 11 June 1990, O'Donovan died aged 74 at Marymount Hospice in Cork after suffering a period of illness.