O'Donovan returned to action for the first time since October 2009

Hartlepool United striker Roy O'Donovan says he was delighted to return to first-team football following his loan move from Sunderland on Tuesday.

O'Donovan played the bulk of Pools' 4-1 home win against Carlisle and admitted being out on the field made a welcome change to recent domestic duties.

"My Saturdays have been spent shopping with the missus, so it was a better standard than that," he told BBC Tees.

"It was a fantastic game tonight and good for me to get my fitness back."

O'Donovan, whose last appearance at Southend was back in October 2009, has struggled to impress himself on the Black Cats first-team following his move to the club from Cork City in July 2006.

Under the management spells of Roy Keane, Ricky Sbragia and now Steve Bruce, the striker has made just 19 appearances for his parent club, with the majority of his opportunities earned on loan at Dundee United, Blackpool and Southend.

The Republic of Ireland B international's latest loan spell has reunited him with some familiar faces in the shape of Denis Behan, Joe Gamble and Peter Hartley.

And O'Donovan admitted their presence has been vital during the initial trial period in bedding into life at Victoria Park.

"The Irish mafia is here, so it's good to be part of that," O'Donovan joked.

"I think that's helped me settle in a lot quicker than I probably would have done, the fact there's been lots of Irish lads here and those are guys I've played with in the past, such as Peter Hartley at Sunderland which is nice.

"Other than that, everyone else has been fantastic as well, so hopefully if we keep getting results, things will get better and people will be in great spirits all season long."

The win takes Hartlepool to 16th place in League One, three points clear of Southend and Oldham, who are fourth-bottom, on 32 points.

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