Born in
Dublin, McDonald first enjoyed success as a schoolboy with
CBS Roscommon, with whom he won Connacht Colleges Championship medal. His performances earned inclusion on the
Roscommon minor teams as a
dual player, however, he subsequently lined out with the
Dublin minor team that won the
All-Ireland Championship in 1958 when
Mayo were beaten in the final. McDonald won a second successive title from centre-forward the following year before winning an
All-Ireland Junior Championship title in 1960. After joining the Dublin senior team, he won
Leinster Championship medals in 1963 and 1965. He was a member of the Dublin squad that defeated
Galway to win the
1963 All-Ireland final. ==Honours==