Irish champion Tyrone was once again shocked by the news of Paul Donahue’s decision to leave the country’s national team.
The Dangannon Clarks man is believed to have informed Tyrone’s management of his decision earlier in the week and is back in training with his club on Wednesday night.
Donahue was called up to the Red Hands in 2021, after an impressive tournament with Dangannon last season, when he finished top scorer since Clarks won the O’Neill Cup for the first time since 1956.
He fulfilled his first dream with the Red Hands in May 2021, when he scored 0-0 in the National League against Donegal at Hill Park, a match the Reds lost.
This was followed 0-4 when Tyrone beat Armagh before earning points in a team match that ended in a draw with Monaghan. In the semi-finals of the tournament, he also scored points when Tyrone beat Kerry Killarney well.
He made his league debut against Kavanaugh and scored points when defending champions Ulster were defeated, but at the moment he is fighting his way to glory.
He did not play in the next three matches as he defeated Tyrone Donegal, Monaghan and Kerry to win the Ulster title and reach the full Irish final.
In the decisive match against Mayo, he entered the field in the 65th minute to replace Conor McKenna as Tyrone won the Sam Maguire Cup for the fourth time.
He was fighting to play in the league campaign that just ended. He entered the first leg against Monaghan looking ready to beat the hosts, but his late scores were thrown by referee Joe McCullini for goalkeeper Rory Begin’s alleged foul on Brian Kennedy when he finished. 0-9 each. .
The next reserve match against Armagh followed until he started the match against Kildare and earned two vital points when Tyrone successfully scored the first points of the season 2-7 versus 0-12.
(Photo: © INPHO / Evan Logan)
He made another start the following week against Donegal but has rarely played since, arriving late in Dublin and not playing against Mayo and Kerry at all.
Donahue’s decision will further affect Tyrone’s offensive options, with Ronan O’Neal, Mark Bradley and Lee Brennan leaving the team, while the more inspiring Donnelly suffered a thigh injury at Killarney last week.
Hugh Pat McGuire, Michael Cassidy and Ternan McCann have also left the panel in recent months.
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Source: Belfastlive
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