 He later moved to Inniscarra where he joined their under-14 team in 1964.As a student McDonnell had success on the club scene as a member of the University College Cork team in 1970.After losing seven finals in the previous thirteen years (including a replay), the collegians finally won a championship medal through a 2–12 to 0–16 defeat of Muskerry which, ironically, was McDonnell's home division.