Fair points and what most people are thinking raised by Ger , re Kobe.
Whilst the narrative of mind him, is fine , the other side of coin is what got to show him, how he will be treated and the quality of setup we have to better him .
He's an outrageous talent and we should do all in out power to keep him
The plus points, go without saying playing for county etc but also lining out with his brother and indeed close mates in the future .

So embrace him and mind him , but put his talent forward, remember it will be a whole 6 months before we need to play him and he will be 18 years old, so have him around the setup , play his u20s and check status, then of whether hes ready for senior or continue with 20s .

Forwards in form and top scorers all of which are lads, whom are kicking 2 pointers for fun are worthy of introduction to county setup and hopefully Andy goes with forwards as forwards and midfielders as midfielders and gives everyone a fair crack

Lads thanks for all the pods across all three grades. I don't know how you manage it but they are absolute gold dust, especially for those of us who are not in a position to attend games. I won't say Boyler is not missed but the guys you bring on are first class.

Fantastic talent Kobe Mc Donnald.

Great Pod as always! Just a thought but I think football is alive and well in North Mayo and the 20’s will belong to North Mayo just like the 10’s belonged to West Mayo. Ballina, Knockmore and Crosmolina are the teams that will be at the top table.

Mitchell’s have been poor for a long time, Ballintubber likewise, Westport have fell back too and I think we can all agree the Breaffy won’t win the Moclair any time in the next few years, that defeat was their last chance and as per usual they found a way to lose the game.

I think it’s time people stop the hype train around West Mayo and Breaffy in particular they had their chances but their time is over, the new age is upon us and it belongs to North Mayo.

I would like to see the young guns of Molina go onto win it but we will see

Football alive and well in North Mayo

Good pod.

Finally. Thank you, Ger Flanagan for speaking on behalf of so many supporters in relation to Kobe. Unfortunately, it may be a bit late or certainly Mayo may be lagging well behind. I hope not, but the sense is the AFL have been working on this kid for some time and it’s incredibly disheartening to think too that anyone in Mayo might possibly promote this kind of process.

It’s sad to think of a Crossmolina senior team and Mayo without Kobe and on the flip side, it's so exciting to think of him playing for both. In the not too distant future, the Mayo senior team will have a large cohort of Crossmolina boys involved. Cross have been a joy to watch this year and with the age profile of their squad they can dominate club football for some time. There are genuine and realistic prospects of All Ireland successes for both Cross and Mayo over the coming decade. A potentially magical journey for Kobe and his close friends, family and team mates as well for the supporters who follow the club and county. It would be a massive loss, not just for these teams and supporters, but for the GAA as a whole. The organisation needs to protect its assets (insofar as they can be deemed as such) and this fella is certainly one. Ger said there needs to be a 'concerted effort to convince and show Kobe that you can stay in Mayo and that there’s a dream to work toward'. To be frank, this should have been happening for the past few years, but you’d imagine Andy and Keith are the type to do their utmost to retain a generational talent. But they need the backing and support of Mayo GAA, all involved with it and most importantly, its sponsors.

As Ger said, we 'slipped up with Mullin [and we also did with Hanley] and we need to figure out ways of rectifying that situation and make sure the same thing doesn’t happen again'. If Mayo are really serious about winning the All Ireland then absolutely everything possible needs to be done. If the right people are involved with Mayo then they should be able to sell the project as Kerry did with Clifford.

The retention of top, top talent should be a major priority for Mayo and the national GAA hierarchy, right up to the very top of the organisation. Look at what Clifford has done for the game, not solely from a Kerry perspective, where he has been absolutely instrumental in their All Ireland successes this decade, but he promotes the game at a time when other sports are competing with it. It inspires kids to want to play the Gaelic Football and dream of representing their county and play in Croke Park and be a hero. Clifford's story shows that you can have a really successful and fruitful ‘career’ in Ireland, playing sport at a very high level, winning and reaping the benefits of that position. David Clifford is being well looked after and will have significant advantages whenever he hangs up the boots. If he can do it, and if Kerry can do it then why not Mayo? It will be a remarkable loss for all of us, for Mayo and the game if we cannot.

I'm sorry, WJ if any of this is surpassing what you feel should be allowed, but given that the pod addressed the topic it may now be ok to discuss. If not, then I apologise in advance and delete etc.

https://x.com/TroySelwood/status/1852194827666072010?t=Hw5yoYI-VHLIpghMv1v0ww&s=19
Anyone ever wonder why so many Mayo and Irish players are being linked or joining Geelong Cats.This link to Tweet above from a prominent man within the Geelong Club may help.An article from a Newspaper is also available from the Tweet.
It's a Tweet thanking Enda McGearty for being the Man who Indentifies and helps players with their journeys.
On the Recent Ah Ref Podcast broadcast on Monday night Enda stated he was to attend this weekend's AFL Final and was looking for a ticket.Im sure Enda will have no problem getting a ticket when he's so good at identifying talent on Geelong's behalf.

You’re okay, Mayonaze - my sole concern, as it’s always been, is that this topic concerns someone who is still a schoolkid and so any chat about him has to be with this in mind. His recent exploits aren’t making this an easy line to hold, I know, but I’d still ask everyone to remain measured in what they have to say.

Imagine the pressure he would be under to perform every time he played if some benefactor were to " sponsor " him while his team mates received nothing. Mayo fans aren't the most forgiving , they wouldn't be long letting him kmow .

In fairness Deel rover there are a lot of current players with lots of benefactors that not all their team mates get e.g. cars, holidays, endorsement deals, guest speaking slots at corporates.
There's 10s of thousands to be made from being a recognises me intercounty player. Even small things like photo ops for the launch of the national leagues gets the player €1,500 to €2,000 and a stay away wherever it's being done.

@deelrover, that pressure will be nothing compared to the pressure he will feel from within to fulfill his potential. He can talk to his Dad about that. And the pressure to perform professionally in Oz won't be small either.

@mayonaze, nice pitch!! Andy might be stealing some of your lines about how he can impact the game here if he stays like Clifford did! I agree though that this is the biggest one yet to try hold on to. We can't complain about Mullin, we had him for two finals and didn't take our chance. I don't think I'm breaking any house rules by saying he is the best young forward talent I've seen in Mayo. I don't know if it's too late but it would be amazing to keep him l, and I know he's a kid for another few months but interested parties need to do what they can within reason to keep him in Mayo.

@gbx1 , Exactly , he has his Dad to talk to who can best advise him on the pros and cons of playing for Mayo . He thankfully will have his sons interest at heart and not just the those of Mayo football.

The very best of luck to Kobe in Austrailia his father gave his all for Mayo and sometimes got nothing but abuse.

@Mayo Gooch - I really don't know what to say about that post and link you shared. Is it legit? I had heard vague rumours but nothing as concrete as that (and I am not on Twitter/X). It just confuses me. I listen to Ah Ref all the time and would have been a big supporter of much of what he says on it, but if this is true then I'll find it very difficult to tune in again. How can someone have a regular sign-off of 'Up Mayo' at the end of a pod and at the same time be actively involved in assisting the AFL in it's scouting and recruitment process in Ireland and Mayo in particular?

If it's true and I hope somehow that it's not, then to say I'm incredibly disappointed is an understatement.

Irish sports people who remain in Ireland for ten years are entitled to a tax refund when they retire.
The tax refund being of use to players who are professional
The GAA player, who gives similar effort and extensive entertainment and joy to hundreds of thousands, get nothing.

If the GAA are to protect their "assets" they need to get serious about how they are to remunerate them.
They want to pay coaches who will never be poached by the Afl, but won't do anything for the people who bring in the crowds.

Any young man who is offered a future in professional sport is entitled to explore it, unless the GAA or some wealthy benefactor stump up a "package to keep him here".
A part time coaching role with schools would be a good start while undergoing a scholarship in some breed of sports science/coaching type course.
Add in brand ambassador role with a Mayo sponsor and your on the road to keeping the best lads in Ireland

@The Deel Rover; the pressure in professional sport goes all the way up to eleven! And the AFL supporters are fairly notorious for their ability to criticise. If ever there was a culture that only wants winners, it's Australia. Sure, there can be pressure in GAA, but you'd like to think that the vast majority of the Mayo public would be nothing but supportive of their own and especially a young fella looking to make a breakthrough. His dad received abuse from a small minority of clueless gombeens and that was disgraceful, but I'd like to think that CMcD recognises how loved he is in Mayo and how highly regarded he is held by the broader Mayo fan base. He has cult hero status. I remember watching his interview on Second Captains and his passion and hopes for Mayo were plain for all to see. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'd like to think too that he would love to see his young fella winning an All Ireland for Mayo. I think the support structure at club and county level is far greater advanced now than it was 20 years ago and as I mentioned above there are very realistic opportunities for both your club and Mayo to be successful on the national stage. To be able to to do this, with close friends and family, it's what most kids growing up playing Gaelic Football can only dream of. For Kobe and his mates, it can be a reality and as Mayo supporters we can only hope that this desire and ambition outweighs all else.

Up Mayo.

@mayonaze, I understand the pressure in professional sport goes up to Eleven however at least you are getting paid for it . Have a read of some of attacks on players here after Mayo matches at times you would wonder why they would bother to play.
Mc D may be loved now as you say , however as a fellow clubman of his I had seen in the past countless times where he was verbally abused by "supporters" and i would leave the match be wondering why he would bother to play at all.
In fact he was often accused of been a "club man" first and foremost. You don't need to go to Australia to find supporters that will criticise , we have plenty of them here in Mayo.

Oh and by the way , having been lucky enough to have watched most of the current crossmolina team play since they were under 6 , I would want Kobe to stay as much as the next man, however at the end of the day its his decision and none of my business what he decides to do.

K Mc D did receive some abuse from a small number of Mayo “fans”. as did Liam McHale, C Mortimer, AOS and of course more recently K McStay. All of the above represented their county with distinction and no doubt did far more for Mayo than the vocal minority who abused them. Such clueless gombeens exist in most counties and no doubt will continue to exist but class players and class people rise above that sort of nonsense. I know very little about the young man from Crossmolina other than what I have seen on TV and read in newspapers. He looks an absolutely class player and I would sincerely love him to stay and play with Mayo. Likewise I was really disappointed when we lost Oisin. I don’t begrudge any lad going off to Australia to play professionally and Oisin is now in the Grand Final. But I care little for Aussie rules and my only concern is the wellbeing of Mayo football. Therefore I do not like to see any serious talent head down under. It’s not a criticism of them just a selfish wish for my own county

Mayonaze,Tweet 100% legit.
He reluctantly had to reveal on Monday's Podcast where he was going as he won't be on Podcast next week.He stated to AFL Final.He has big ties with Geelong.Apologies Willie Joe if I'm breaking House Rules but I feel it's an important issue.

Mayo Gooch - it’s probably as well to leave the issue there. It’s also worth pointing out that the tweet in question references AFLW specifically and not AFL.

A lot of good football people here in Navan were blown away with the standard of play produced by Crossmolina at the weekend on TV.
Sometimes we are too critical of the standard of club football in Mayo.
Thought I was mad when I stated that they probably won't win it out.

Jack coyne the sole mayo representative nominated for allstar. He had a decent year so well done Jack nice to get the recognition

Mayo team on form ( for fun)
.................Clarke(Cluxton return)
Coyne......McHugh.....Sam
Durcan......Mcbrien.....Loftus
............Flynn.....Murray
Irwin........Kuba........McHale
Regan......ROD.....Kobe

Well done Jack Coyne on being nominated.

Congrats to Jack Coyne well deserved nomination.

Deel rover makes good points.I would love to see us retain Kobe i went down from Dublin this weekend to see Crossmolina and him to be honest and will probably make the same trip for the semi.
However as CMac will be well able to tell him there are pros and cons of playing for Mayo and there can be plenty of hurt involved from within the County and outside as well.
When you consider the abuse a certain Knockmore backroom man threw at honest guys and lined his own pockets in the process in the national media it's plain to see that playing for Mayo is not all roses.
Still though my God what a prospect and we are lucky to have him for now.

FreeTheEastBank.
I remember myself and my son making the journey from Maynooth to Castlebar to see his father playing a county semifinal against Ballahadreen I think. It was coming to the end of Ciaran’s career and we wanted to see him one more time. Unfortunately he was carrying an injury and only came on late in the second half. Goes to show, black cat, black kitten.

Just looking back at the archives and I see Ciaran McDonald made his debut as an 18 year old for Mayo in the 1st round of the National League against All Ireland champions Derry in October of 1993.No reason why Kobe can be called in for the upcoming season.

Let him concentrate on his leaving cert.
Exams not over till June, don't think we will see before then, perhaps in u20 as games mid week.

I've a view not Kobe related Thad u19s and u20s should be on a majorly reduced program when in with our seniors.
In terms of playing my view would be u19s and u20s play limited minutes from the bench. Just purely on keeping their workload low. I don't want u19s and u20s blowing hammers or dislocating AC joints early in their career.
We've seen too many promising Mayo senior careers hampered or not get off the ground over the last 12 years.

Has Kobe any brothers ?