Lee Keegan Sums Up What All Of Mayo Is Thinking After Kobe McDonald Semi-Final 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 DisplayKobe 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.
🤯 Killian Kilkelly's last minute equaliser sends the game into extra-time.
📺 Click here to buy/watch 👉 https://t.co/hvqclFUWCr@MayoGAA pic.twitter.com/HXEKiEufwq
— StreamSport.ie (@StreamsportI) October 11, 2025
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.
🤩 Kobe McDonald with a huge 2⃣ pointer for @DeelRoversGAA to level the game once again.
📺 Click here to buy/watch 👉 https://t.co/hvqclFVurZ@MayoGAA pic.twitter.com/pJHYUxMD2c
— StreamSport.ie (@StreamsportI) October 11, 2025
Here is another angle from which to admire that particular score.
Kobe McDonald kicks a two-point free in extra time for his ninth point in the Mayo SFC semi-final. pic.twitter.com/BQU3jtqLFL
— Aonghus McDonagh (@thereal_amcd123) October 11, 2025
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.
🎥 Watch match highlights form Saturday's Connacht Gold senior football championship Semi Final between @DeelRoversGAA and @westportgaa pic.twitter.com/moWQszPxGK
— Mayo GAA (@MayoGAA) October 11, 2025
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.
Speaking to https://t.co/oMDt5TCVDh after a Mayo GAA Connacht Gold senior football semi-final for the ages, five time All Star Lee Keegan said it was just brilliant to be back in the final. The Westport captain said he was immensely proud of the entire panel and he knew they… pic.twitter.com/nOj7SWdBez
— Mayo GAA (@MayoGAA) October 11, 2025
[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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