By Michael McMullan

DONEGAL and St Eunan’s star Shane O’Donnell has been awarded the Gradam Shéamuis Mhic Géidigh award for the player of the Donegal Championship 2024 as Letterkenny men took the title.

St Eunan’s beat Dungloe in the final and O’Donnell was the star man on the pitch as St Eunan’s feel short in Ulster. His four points weren’t enough to reel in eventual champions Errigal Ciaran.

“O’Donnell’s performance in this year’s championship was consistent throughout,” said Damien Ó Dónaill, of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Chairperson of the selection committee.

“He was a leader and impressed from the early stages of the championship. Congratulations to Shane, and my thanks to the Donegal sports journalists who came together to make the selection for this year’s award recipient.”

The Gradam Shéamuis Mhic Géidigh award is presented each year to the player of the Donegal Championship, as selected by a committee of sports journalists in the county.

This year’s award will be presented at St Eunan’s dinner dance on December 28.

Broadcaster Séamus Mac Géidigh was synonymous with Donegal GAA, and the voice of Gaelic Games in that county until his untimely death in 2016.

This award was established to honour his memory. Recipients to date are Michael Murphy, Mark McHugh, Odhrán Mac Niallais, Ciarán Thompson, Caolan Ward, Brendan McDyre and Oisín Gallen.

The award was created by sculptor Redmond Herrity using Donegal Granite carved in the shape of Errigal, with an image of Séamus Mac Géidigh engraved to the front.