 Ramba uchiverenga ndima ino - Donovan akakurira muGalway uye akatamba mitambo kuchikoro chesekondari, achinyanya kutamba nhabvu yeGaelic, nhabvu, uye rugby. Zvisinei, apo aidzidzira nhabvu yeGaelic akawana chipo chokumhanya daro refu. Akaita kutanga kwake kwepasi rose pa1979 IAAF World Cross Country Championships yakaitwa pamba pake muLimerick, achimhanya mujaho wechidiki uye achiisa 54th. Akakunda chikamu chepakati cheBritish Schools Cross Country International gore iroro, pamwe nekumhanya mumakwikwi emamita 3000 pa1979 European Athletics Junior Championships. Kuonekwa kwake kwekupedzisira kwevechidiki kwakanga kuri kumhanya mu1981 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, kwaakavandudza kusvika panzvimbo yechi18 uye akatungamira timu yechidiki yeIrish kusvika pachinhanho chechisere. 