Kobe McDonald
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Native name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 8 December 2007 Mayo, Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relative | Ciarán McDonald (Father) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Gaelic Football, Australian Rules | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| *Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 26 July 2026. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kobe McDonald (Irish: Kobe Mac Dómhnaill; born 8 December 2007) is an Irish professional Australian rules footballer and former Gaelic footballer who plays for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously played Gaelic football as a forward for the Mayo county team and at club level for Crossmolina Deel Rovers, before switching codes and joining St Kilda in 2026.
Personal life
[edit]McDonald's father is former Mayo gaelic footballer and All Star Ciarán McDonald. He is named after Kobe Bryant. He is a half brother of fellow Mayo footballer, Jordan Flynn.[1]
McDonald attended Gortnor Abbey in Crossmolina, where he sat the Leaving Certificate in June 2026.[2]
GAA Career
[edit]Crossmolina Deel Rovers
[edit]Underage
[edit]McDonald won a Mayo Minor A championship in 2025. It was Crossmolina's first Minor A title in 32 years.[3]
Senior
[edit]McDonald started playing adult football with Crossmolina in 2025.[4]
Mayo
[edit]Underage
[edit]Minor
[edit]In 2024, McDonald won the Connacht Minor Football Championship[5] with Mayo subsequently reaching the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship semi-final, losing to Armagh. He finished the year as the leading scorer in the minor football championship, amassing 4-30 across 7 matches.
Under 20
[edit]McDonald was a member of the Under-20 panel as well as the senior panel in 2026. Keith Higgins served as manager of the U-20 Mayo team. Mayo qualified for the Connacht final against Roscommon.[6]
Senior
[edit]2026
[edit]McDonald made his senior debut for Mayo in a league win over Monaghan on 22 February 2026, scoring 1-4.[7] In his second league appearance, McDonald scored 0-02 in a win versus Armagh.[8] McDonald’s final 2026 league appearance was in a 16 point loss to Kerry, he scored 0-01.[9]
McDonald made his championship debut as an 18-year-old Leaving Cert student against Roscommon. Starting corner-forward, he scored 0-06 as Mayo lost 2-25 to 1-18.[10]
Mayo were drawn to face Monaghan in Round 1 of the All-Ireland Championship. In Clones, Mayo won on a 1-24 to 2-20 scoreline. McDonald contributed 1-04 from corner forward.[11]
Mayo played Tyrone in the winners' side of Round 2.
After their Round 2 loss, Mayo were drawn against Meath in Round 3.
Mayo beat Cork in the All-Ireland Quarter-Final on a 0-23 to 0-18 scoreline. McDonald scored 0-04 in his first senior appearance in Croke Park. He scored 0-04 against Louth in the All-Ireland Semi-Final.[12]
On 26 July 2026, McDonald won the 2026 All-Ireland Football Championship with Mayo, scoring 0-03 (1x45).[13] He was selected at 15 in The Sunday Game 2026 Team of the Year.[14]
AFL Career
[edit]| Kobe McDonald | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Kobe McDonald | ||
| Born |
8 December 2007 Mayo, Ireland | ||
| Original team | Crossmolina Deel Rovers/Mayo | ||
| Draft | Category B | ||
| Height | 193 cm (6 ft 4 in) | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | St Kilda | ||
| Number | 42 | ||
| Playing career | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2026–present | St Kilda | ||
| Source: AustralianFootball.com | |||
In November 2025, McDonald signed with St. Kilda as a Category B rookie. His arrival in Australia was delayed until August 2026 to allow him to complete his Leaving Certificate examinations and to compete in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.[15][16]
Underage GAA Statistics
[edit]- As of match played 31 May 2026
| Team | Year | Connacht | All-Ireland | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Score | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | ||
| Mayo Minor | 2023 | 0 | 0-00 | 0 | 0–00 | 0 | 0–00 |
| Mayo Minor | 2024 | 5 | 3-21 | 2 | 1–09 | 7 | 4–30 |
| Mayo U-20 | 2026 | 0 | 0-00 | 0 | 0–00 | 0 | 0–00 |
| Total | 0 | 0-00 | 0 | 0–00 | 0 | 0–00 | |
Senior GAA Statistics
[edit]- As of match played 26 July 2026
| Team | Year | FBD Insurance League | National League | Connacht | All-Ireland | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Score | Division | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | ||
| Mayo | 2026 | 0 | 0-00 | Division 1 | 3 | 1–07 | 1 | 0–06 | 6 | 1–22 | 10 | 2–35 |
| Total | 0 | 0-00 | 3 | 1–07 | 1 | 0–06 | 6 | 1–22 | 10 | 2–35 | ||
Championship appearances
[edit]| List of appearances | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | W/L/D | Competition | |
| 1 | 26 April 2026 | MacHale Park | Roscommon | 0–06 | 1–18 : 2–25 | L | Connacht Semi-Final |
| 2 | 31 May 2026 | St Tiernach's Park | Monaghan | 1–04 | 1–24 : 2–20 | W | All-Ireland Round 1 |
| 3 | 14 June 2026 | Healy Park | Tyrone | 0–03 | 1–18 : 0–22 | L | All-Ireland Round 2A |
| 4 | 20 June 2026 | MacHale Park | Meath | 0–04 | 0–22 : 2–13 | W | All-Ireland Round 3 |
| 5 | 27 June 2026 | Croke Park | Cork | 0–04 | 0–23 : 0–18 | W | All-Ireland Quarter-Final |
| 6 | 11 July 2026 | Croke Park | Louth | 0–04 | 3–23 : 0–15 | W | All-Ireland Semi-Final |
| 7 | 26 July 2026 | Croke Park | Kerry | 0–03 | 1–20 : 1–17 | W | All-Ireland Final |
GAA Honours
[edit]Mayo
[edit]- All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
- (1): 2026
- Connacht Minor Football Championship
- (1): 2024
Crossmolina Deel Rovers
[edit]- Mayo Minor A Football Championship
- (1): 2025
- Mayo Under 16 A Football Championship
- (1): 2023
References
[edit]- ↑ Bradley, Oisín. "INTERVIEW: Jordan Flynn on lifting Sam Maguire with brother Kobe McDonald". Mayo News. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
- ↑ "St. Clare's All-Ireland defence ends as Kobe McDonald wonder goal seals Leitrim schools' exit". LeitrimObserver.ie. 15 January 2026.
- ↑ "Crossmolina end 32 year wait for Mayo minor title". Con-Telegraph.ie. 31 August 2025.
- ↑ "Mayo will enjoy Kobe McDonald for as long as they have him". GAA.ie. 25 February 2026.
- ↑ "Mayo make it a triple after overcoming gutsy Roscommon". WesternPeople.ie. 28 May 2024.
- ↑ "Higgins names Mayo team ahead of Connacht U-20 Final". Mayonews.ie. 28 April 2026.
- ↑ Shalvey, Colm. "Kobe McDonald impresses for Mayo in emphatic win over Monaghan". The Irish Times.
- ↑ "Kobe McDonald shines again as Mayo hold off Armagh fightback". RTÉ.ie.
- ↑ "Allianz FL D1: Kerry cruise to victory". GAA.ie.
- ↑ "Roscommon dismantle Mayo with second-half blitz". RTE.ie. 26 April 2026.
- ↑ "Mayo hang on to deny epic Monaghan comeback". RTE.ie.
- ↑ Mohan, David. "Mayo power past Louth into All-Ireland final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
- ↑ Gault, Matt. "Mayo beat Kerry in thriller to end 75-year All-Ireland wait". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
- ↑ "Mayo's Ryan O'Donoghue named All-Ireland man of the match and player of the season as Sunday Game team of the year revealed". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
- ↑ "Kobe McDonald joins AFL side St Kilda, Ben Murphy signs with Brisbane". RTE.ie. 3 November 2025.
- ↑ "Mum of Mayo star Kobe McDonald opens up on son's AFL move". 30 July 2026. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
External links
[edit]- Kobe McDonald's profile on the official website of the St Kilda Football Club
- Kobe McDonald at AustralianFootball.com
