Having previously represented the province at under-18 level, as well as playing for Munster's 7s team in the
IRFU's inaugural HPC Sevens Series and for the
'A' team in fixtures against
Leinster A and
Ulster A, Donnelly joined the
Munster academy ahead of the 2021–22 season. Following the disruption caused by the province's
recent tour to South Africa, Donnelly made his senior competitive debut for Munster in their opening
2021–22 Champions Cup fixture away to English club
Wasps on 12 December 2021, coming on as a replacement for
Dave Kilcoyne in the province's 35–14 win. Donnelly made his league debut for Munster as a replacement for
Josh Wycherley in the province's 29–24 away defeat against South African side the
Bulls in a rescheduled round 6 fixture during the
2021–22 United Rugby Championship on 12 March 2022. ==Ireland==