Kobe McDonald Pays Tribute To St Kilda After Making Mayo Club Return

Kobe McDonald has thanked St Kilda for recognising how much Gaelic football means to their Irish recruits after returning to championship action with Crossmolina.

The Mayo All-Ireland winner featured in the Deel Rovers’ draw with Mayo Gaels, having missed their opening two group games while in Australia.

Speaking to local journalist James Breheny afterwards, McDonald made clear how eager he had been to get back alongside his clubmates.

I obviously missed the first two games of the group, which I was itching to get back with the boys.

The club means so much to me. Just looking forward to playing the quarter-final now wherever it is, and we’ll set our sights for that.

Kobe McDonald Pays Tribute To St Kilda After Making Mayo Club Return

The match marked McDonald’s first appearance since the All-Ireland final, following a busy period that included the celebrations, a trip to Australia to settle into St Kilda and a visit to Electric Picnic with The Saw Doctors.

His return to club football has been made possible by the Australian club’s willingness to allow him and their other Irish players to line out at home.

Asked about St Kilda’s approach, McDonald expressed his gratitude for the support they have shown him throughout the year.

That’s a testament to what they’ve done for me all year. They’ve been so good to me.

Firstly, letting me play with Mayo and then letting three of us play with our clubs back home.

They know how much the club means to us. I just can’t thank them enough.

There was no straightforward return to action against Mayo Gaels, who pushed Crossmolina throughout a difficult afternoon in wet and windy weather.

McDonald was disappointed that his side had been unable to turn a strong first-half wind advantage into a more substantial lead.

Two Mayo Gaels goals helped keep them in touch and Crossmolina needed late points from Niall Coggins and Jordan Flynn to hang on for a point.

It wasn’t the result we came for. It wasn’t the result we were after, but Mayo Gaels put up a serious show.

It was in tough conditions, and they fought for that dirty ball in the first half. We went in three up with a gale-force breeze, which we weren’t too happy with.

Crossmolina had been targeting a home quarter-final, but McDonald was unperturbed by the idea of having to travel for a quarter-final. It has since been confirmed by Mayo GAA that the impressive Garrymore will host Crossmolina Deel Rovers on Saturday the 19th of September at 7:30pm, where another big band of supporters will be expected.

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