Keegan Sums Up Mayo Fans Are Thinking After Kobe McDonald Display

Westport booked their first Mayo senior final appearance since 2022 yesterday, but much of the post-match conversation after their semi-final has been dominated by the performance of one member of the opposition team.

Kobe McDonald, the son of legendary Mayo player Ciaran McDonald, has been the breakout star in this year's club championship. Despite being just 17-years old, the Crossmolina Deel Rovers star has been the standout player for his club as they reemerged as a serious contender in the Mayo senior ranks.

This was Crossmolina's first season back in the top tier, having been crowned intermediate champions in 2024. They would also add McDonald to their panel for this year, with the youngster going on to make an immediate impact as they reached the semi-finals.

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Keegan Sums Up What All Of Mayo Is Thinking After Kobe McDonald Display

Kobe McDonald would end yesterday's game with a remarkable personal tally of 0-10, making up a good chunk of his side's 1-20 total.

The game would go all the way to extra-time, with this point from Westport's Killian Kilkelly in the dying seconds of normal time denying Crossmolina what would have been a first senior county final appearance since 2006.

The side would continue to go tit for tat in the afters, with Kobe McDonald scoring this two-point free to take his tally to 0-9.

Here is another angle from which to admire that particular score.

While McDonald would add another point soon after, it would prove to be Westport's day. They would run out as winners on a scoreline of 1-24 to 1-20 after a pulsating contest.

You can see extended highlights of the game below, including more scores from the young Crossmolina phenom.

What a star.

Despite Westport's win, there is an acceptance that Crossmolina are a coming force in Mayo football. Speaking after the game, Lee Keegan would go as far as to suggest that the Kobe McDonald led outfit could be the team to beat in the county for the foreseeable future.

[Ballina] are a savage outfit, they set the standard in Mayo football at the moment.

Crossmolina will be that standard bearer for a long time after what I seen today.

Kobe McDonald does not turn 18 until the end of this year, meaning he has likely not even begun to scratch the surface of his full potential as a player.

The teenager already looks at home in men's football, meaning it likely won't be too long before we see him line out in the colours of Mayo at senior inter-county level.

Considering the talent he has already displayed, that should be a massively exciting prospect for the county's supporters.

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