Mayo Under-20 manager Keith Higgins says 18-year-old Kobe McDonald plays with a brilliant freedom and feels the shackles should remain off him as the 2026 season unfolds.
McDonald made a dream start to his inter-county senior career last weekend as he came off the bench away to Monaghan, tore at his opponents and ended up with 1-04 in 20 minutes.
Over the past couple of seasons his power, pace, balance and poise off both feet had already set him apart as one of the most outstanding young talents in the game, but last weekend he made an immediate impact on a bigger stage.
His father Ciarán was one of the most stylish players of any era and lined out alongside Higgins in an All-Ireland final 20 years ago.
Now the Ballyhaunis man will coach McDonald’s son in the upcoming U20 football championship.
After the season ends, however, the youngster will link up with AFL outfit St Kilda, having already agreed a deal with the Melbourne club.
And at the launch of this season’s Dalata Hotel Group All-Ireland U20 football championship, Higgins described the teenager as being phenomenal; a natural talent.
Higgins said that senior manager Andy Moran had done a fine job in easing him into the Mayo senior panel, but agreed that a spotlight was now firmly focused on the brilliant attacker.
“Only two weeks ago Kobe was still playing schools’ football,” Higgins said.
“He only hit 18 in December and he plays the game with total freedom and pure joy.
“You could see all of that on his face last Sunday.
“I don’t think there will be any stopping the hype train, but he will just get on with it. I don’t think you get too tactical with a player like Kobe either, just let him off and let him bring out the talents that he has on the field.
“I think he’s enjoying it. I wouldn’t put too much structure or too much pressure on him – just go and play.”
Keith Higgins in his playing days
A four-time GAA All-Star, Higgins played both Gaelic football and hurling for Mayo in a stellar career.
He made his inter-county football debut in 2003 and played until 2021, winning eight Connacht titles, a league title and was voted All-Star Young Footballer of the Year in 2006.
A loyal servant in both codes, he also captained both the county U21 football and hurling teams to All-Ireland Championships and won 13 county hurling titles with Ballyhaunis.
In 2014, he became the first Connacht player to win both football and hurling Railway Cup medals in the same year.
When asked was it frustrating that his county now looks set to lose another outrageous talent to the AFL – following in the footsteps of Pearse Hanley and OisÃn Mullen – Higgins wondered aloud if much could be done to stop the drain of Mayo talent from pursuing a professional career.
“Look, it is very tough on people who put in 10 years coaching players and then AFL clubs (come) calling or whatever.
“Can there be compensation? We’re an amateur sport so probably not.
“Can we stop someone from opting for a professional lifestyle? It’s up to the individual involved to make that call.
“So, in general I’m not sure what can be done. With Kobe, as everyone is saying, he is here at the moment and we have to appreciate him.”
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