on 21 october 2001, donoghue captained the club from centre-back to their very first galway senior championship title following an 0-18 to 2-11 defeat of athenry. donoghue won a connacht club championship medal on 18 november following a 2-18 to 1-06 defeat of four roads in the final. on 17 march 2002, he captained clarinbridge to a 2-10 to 1-05 all-ireland final defeat by birr.