 He made his hurling debut in the provincial decider on 21 July 1968 and collected a Munster medal following a 7–8 to 5–4 defeat of Waterford.McDonnell was an unused substitute for Cork's subsequent All-Ireland final defeat by Wexford.Also that year he claimed a Munster medal with Cork's footballers following a 4–15 to 4–10 defeat of Clare.