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Mayo GAA Thread

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Great display today from Kobe McDonald but unless his team in Australia will let him play up Untill he goes to Australia then he shouldn't be on the team. Maybe after today he'll have second thoughts.

cluichethar (Mayo) - Posts: 615 - 22/02/2026 19:22:50    2657904

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Replying To S1234:  "Hardly it was Monaghan . Galway still on course for league final and Connacht ."
Galway won't be in league final, check the math.
Galway could potentially avoid relegation with 6 points and will focus on Championship.
No other choice really.

maroondiesel (Mayo) - Posts: 1258 - 22/02/2026 19:44:11    2657911

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Replying To maroondiesel:  "Galway won't be in league final, check the math.
Galway could potentially avoid relegation with 6 points and will focus on Championship.
No other choice really."
Yes true they wont make it. I kinda hoped we would avoid league final we still might. Prob need one more win to secure division 1 status .

S1234 (Mayo) - Posts: 873 - 23/02/2026 08:35:23    2658001

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Replying To cluichethar:  "Great display today from Kobe McDonald but unless his team in Australia will let him play up Untill he goes to Australia then he shouldn't be on the team. Maybe after today he'll have second thoughts."
Daft post. If he was only available for the league you still play him. Get him involved. The players will have no issue with him getting game time. It's good to have that before he leaves.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8775 - 23/02/2026 09:30:25    2658007

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Replying To TheFlaker:  "Daft post. If he was only available for the league you still play him. Get him involved. The players will have no issue with him getting game time. It's good to have that before he leaves."
It's clear he's going to be around for the full inter county season season before he jets off. So that is July and from next month himself and Darragh Berine will be busy with U20s.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3854 - 23/02/2026 11:44:19    2658071

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Replying To Gaa_lover:  "It's clear he's going to be around for the full inter county season season before he jets off. So that is July and from next month himself and Darragh Berine will be busy with U20s."
Wrong Darragh Beirne is now up to seniors even Andy said it. But sure you know best ...

S1234 (Mayo) - Posts: 873 - 23/02/2026 20:06:30    2658250

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Been listening to multiple GAA podcasts and looking at social media as I do every week. The hype around Kobe is in the vast majority coming from outside the county and mostly from journalists. You then have others looking to "hype the hype" and spread downright lies.

It was stated the Western People on this forum had a seven page spread on Kobe. A downright lie. It's assuming but one can see how things I get out of hand on social media.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11920 - 24/02/2026 21:30:51    2658465

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Replying To TheFlaker:  "Daft post. If he was only available for the league you still play him. Get him involved. The players will have no issue with him getting game time. It's good to have that before he leaves."
Why is it a daft post?

cluichethar (Mayo) - Posts: 615 - 24/02/2026 22:37:15    2658472

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Good performance on Sunday, even though it was against a weakened Monaghan team. Felt like Mayo were running through Monaghan like Donegal were the previous week against Mayo.
Durcan and Loftus make a big difference, pace and good on the ball. Tuohy had a great game, might not have had much competition but will give him great confidence.
Defensively not great, full back still not good enough, and Hennelly could have done better for second goal i thought, he should have gone full belt for it and take man and ball.
Beirne was very good, Kobe had some debut even though game was well over when he came into it so bigger tests ahead.
Great to see Galway and Rossies losing there minds over Kobe, what is it to them. Rossies saying it was a magical night beating Galway by a point in the league. Galway ppl reading the western people now, and if an article talks about Kobe and then the match that means its a full page dedicated to Kobe haha..

tommy132 (Mayo) - Posts: 665 - 25/02/2026 11:47:46    2658521

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Replying To cluichethar:  "Why is it a daft post?"
Claiming we shouldn't use a gifted player if he is available. The leadership group and the manager would have discussed this so clearly the group want him playing.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8775 - 25/02/2026 11:51:45    2658525

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Tough game this coming weekend surly. Armagh need the points, we don't. Likely 3-4 changes from the Monaghan game. All eyes on championship for me from here on in. Use the last three league games to experiment.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11920 - 25/02/2026 13:11:18    2658548

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Replying To yew_tree:  "Been listening to multiple GAA podcasts and looking at social media as I do every week. The hype around Kobe is in the vast majority coming from outside the county and mostly from journalists. You then have others looking to "hype the hype" and spread downright lies.

It was stated the Western People on this forum had a seven page spread on Kobe. A downright lie. It's assuming but one can see how things I get out of hand on social media."
Downright lie you say? You might apologise after the below, so.

My post from the Galway thread:

"There absolute was. Who are you trying to fool? Or did you not read the paper because I did.

Let's go through them, if you must.

Sports cover: A photo of Kobe celebrating with a headline entitled "Teen spirit".

Page 2: Column from Mark Ronaldson with a title: "Impossible to shelter our new star from hype".

Page 3: Interview with Andy Moran with a headline: "Andy on Kobe: 'He's a real talented boy'.

Page 4: James Laffey piece. Headline: 'McDonald is already in rarefied company'

Page 5: Match report from Anthony Hennigan. Headline "Cyclone Kobe strikes Clones as Moran's Mayo run riot". Eight of the first nine paragraphs are about Kobe.

Page 6: A column from Aonghus O Maicin. Headline: "Nothing quite like the irreverence of youth". Admittedly, doesn't start with Kobe focus but his name is in the first sentence. However, the second half of the article is named "Act II - The Kobe Show".

Page 7: Edwin McGreal piece. "A debut to remember for not your ordinary Mayo teenager." I wonder who that would be about."

TanCanRan (Galway) - Posts: 335 - 25/02/2026 13:18:33    2658550

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Replying To S1234:  "Wrong Darragh Beirne is now up to seniors even Andy said it. But sure you know best ..."
.

From Keith Higgins at the lanch of the U20 championship the other day.

" myself and Andy Moran have agreed that Kobe McDonald and Darragh Beirne will be given the freedom to focus on the Under-20 Championship when it begins on March 18th and concludes with the All-Ireland final is scheduled for mid-May"

So going by that this weekend against Arnagh could be the last senior appearance for that pair until All-Ireland series.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3854 - 25/02/2026 13:47:50    2658555

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Great to see Galway and Rossies losing there minds over Kobe, what is it to them. Rossies saying it was a magical night beating Galway by a point in the league.

tommy132 (Mayo) - Posts: 664 - 25/02/2026 11:47:46

Can you give any examples to where this is happening? We have our own business to take care of and fully focus on. How you have found a connection with us beating Galway and 18 year old making his senior debut is a bit bizarre but each to their own and all that

The_analyser (Roscommon) - Posts: 4274 - 25/02/2026 13:56:02    2658556

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Looking at the fixtures - there are 5 week between playing Roscommon in the league and playing them again in the Connacht semi

I'd be for testing the team out (as full strength as possible) against Armagh and Kerry.
Rest up for Roscommon in the league before going after them properly in the Connacht semi.

Resting up in February when you have no right match for 4 weeks at the end of the league - could leave Mayo facing a Roscommon team who are playing at full pelt gunning for a Connacht title.

Its not so easy to turn form on and off.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1688 - 25/02/2026 14:01:00    2658557

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Replying To TanCanRan:  "Downright lie you say? You might apologise after the below, so.

My post from the Galway thread:

"There absolute was. Who are you trying to fool? Or did you not read the paper because I did.

Let's go through them, if you must.

Sports cover: A photo of Kobe celebrating with a headline entitled "Teen spirit".

Page 2: Column from Mark Ronaldson with a title: "Impossible to shelter our new star from hype".

Page 3: Interview with Andy Moran with a headline: "Andy on Kobe: 'He's a real talented boy'.

Page 4: James Laffey piece. Headline: 'McDonald is already in rarefied company'

Page 5: Match report from Anthony Hennigan. Headline "Cyclone Kobe strikes Clones as Moran's Mayo run riot". Eight of the first nine paragraphs are about Kobe.

Page 6: A column from Aonghus O Maicin. Headline: "Nothing quite like the irreverence of youth". Admittedly, doesn't start with Kobe focus but his name is in the first sentence. However, the second half of the article is named "Act II - The Kobe Show".

Page 7: Edwin McGreal piece. "A debut to remember for not your ordinary Mayo teenager." I wonder who that would be about.""
Sad enough that you actually went and copied & pasted that about an 18 year old kid.................bitter much .

S1234 (Mayo) - Posts: 873 - 25/02/2026 14:51:58    2658575

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Replying To TanCanRan:  "Downright lie you say? You might apologise after the below, so.

My post from the Galway thread:

"There absolute was. Who are you trying to fool? Or did you not read the paper because I did.

Let's go through them, if you must.

Sports cover: A photo of Kobe celebrating with a headline entitled "Teen spirit".

Page 2: Column from Mark Ronaldson with a title: "Impossible to shelter our new star from hype".

Page 3: Interview with Andy Moran with a headline: "Andy on Kobe: 'He's a real talented boy'.

Page 4: James Laffey piece. Headline: 'McDonald is already in rarefied company'

Page 5: Match report from Anthony Hennigan. Headline "Cyclone Kobe strikes Clones as Moran's Mayo run riot". Eight of the first nine paragraphs are about Kobe.

Page 6: A column from Aonghus O Maicin. Headline: "Nothing quite like the irreverence of youth". Admittedly, doesn't start with Kobe focus but his name is in the first sentence. However, the second half of the article is named "Act II - The Kobe Show".

Page 7: Edwin McGreal piece. "A debut to remember for not your ordinary Mayo teenager." I wonder who that would be about.""
Sports cover: A photo of Kobe celebrating with a headline entitled "Teen spirit".
A photo? So not a full page dedicated to Kobe

Page 2: Column from Mark Ronaldson with a title: "Impossible to shelter our new star from hype".

Article about the game, talks about Kobe first and then the game, would prefer if it was other way around but game wasnt worth going through. Big image of fans at the game and even talks about Man United. So again full page about Kobe?

Page 3: Interview with Andy Moran with a headline: "Andy on Kobe: 'He's a real talented boy'.

Article that is half about Kobe and half about Mayo results, image of Kobe and his brother. Article about mayo hurlers also but i didnt see Kobe mentioned Im assuming you must have? Full page dedicated to Kobe?

Page 4: James Laffey piece. Headline: 'McDonald is already in rarefied company'

Article thats about debuts, image of Kobe and imgae of Tuohy, alot about Padraig Carney, then Cillian O Connor and Kevin O Neil, then about Kobe and then about Mayo this year, talks about Beirne, O Donoghue etc. Full page dedicated to Kobe?

Page 5: Match report from Anthony Hennigan. Headline "Cyclone Kobe strikes Clones as Moran's Mayo run riot".
Eight of the first nine paragraphs are about Kobe.

Image of Boland, article starts about Kobe, but most of it talks about the game. Full page dedicated to Kobe?

Page 6: A column from Aonghus O Maicin. Headline: "Nothing quite like the irreverence of youth". Admittedly, doesn't start with Kobe focus but his name is in the first sentence. However, the second half of the article is named "Act II - The Kobe Show".

Image of Beirne, talks about Berine and then Kobe and the game. Full page dedicated to Kobe?

Page 7: Edwin McGreal piece. "A debut to remember for not your ordinary Mayo teenager." I wonder who that would be about."

Image of Kobe and O Shea. Article is half about Kobe and half about the match. No mention of kobe in the report of the sligo game, you must have seen Kobe mentioned in there. Full page dedicated to Kobe?

tommy132 (Mayo) - Posts: 665 - 25/02/2026 15:12:31    2658580

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Replying To TanCanRan:  "Downright lie you say? You might apologise after the below, so.

My post from the Galway thread:

"There absolute was. Who are you trying to fool? Or did you not read the paper because I did.

Let's go through them, if you must.

Sports cover: A photo of Kobe celebrating with a headline entitled "Teen spirit".

Page 2: Column from Mark Ronaldson with a title: "Impossible to shelter our new star from hype".

Page 3: Interview with Andy Moran with a headline: "Andy on Kobe: 'He's a real talented boy'.

Page 4: James Laffey piece. Headline: 'McDonald is already in rarefied company'

Page 5: Match report from Anthony Hennigan. Headline "Cyclone Kobe strikes Clones as Moran's Mayo run riot". Eight of the first nine paragraphs are about Kobe.

Page 6: A column from Aonghus O Maicin. Headline: "Nothing quite like the irreverence of youth". Admittedly, doesn't start with Kobe focus but his name is in the first sentence. However, the second half of the article is named "Act II - The Kobe Show".

Page 7: Edwin McGreal piece. "A debut to remember for not your ordinary Mayo teenager." I wonder who that would be about.""
In fairness your original post said:

"TanCanRan: "Yer completely losing the run of yerselves. There were seven pages in the Western People today all about Kobe McDonald. Seven pages in the local paper.....that's nuts."

That makes it sound like there was a full seven-page spread dedicated to him when you say they were "all about Kobe McDonald," but the examples you gave are just small extracts from different columns scattered across those seven pages and one is a picture on the cover page.

I agree with your point - some local and national media are getting carried away and should just leave the lad alone to play football. I'm not from Mayo, so I can't speak for the local papers there, but even online I've seen plenty - Galway-based outlets included. TG4 putting together a montage over Oliva Dean music and Maurice Brosnan being one of the first to post a clip of his goal are just two examples.

No offence, but you're coming across as a bit petty by going out to buy a Mayo newspaper while based in Galway just to win an argument on a forum, and then doubling down when what you originally said was factually incorrect.

Dmoa95 (UK) - Posts: 4 - 25/02/2026 15:17:12    2658583

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Replying To S1234:  "Sad enough that you actually went and copied & pasted that about an 18 year old kid.................bitter much ."
I was being accused of lying, so well within my rights to copy and paste (took less than 20 seconds) the actual facts. You don't like them because they highlight Mayo supporters being wrong.

And it's 's certainly better than going around this place calling everyone "bitter".

TanCanRan (Galway) - Posts: 335 - 25/02/2026 15:46:33    2658598

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Replying To TanCanRan:  "Downright lie you say? You might apologise after the below, so.

My post from the Galway thread:

"There absolute was. Who are you trying to fool? Or did you not read the paper because I did.

Let's go through them, if you must.

Sports cover: A photo of Kobe celebrating with a headline entitled "Teen spirit".

Page 2: Column from Mark Ronaldson with a title: "Impossible to shelter our new star from hype".

Page 3: Interview with Andy Moran with a headline: "Andy on Kobe: 'He's a real talented boy'.

Page 4: James Laffey piece. Headline: 'McDonald is already in rarefied company'

Page 5: Match report from Anthony Hennigan. Headline "Cyclone Kobe strikes Clones as Moran's Mayo run riot". Eight of the first nine paragraphs are about Kobe.

Page 6: A column from Aonghus O Maicin. Headline: "Nothing quite like the irreverence of youth". Admittedly, doesn't start with Kobe focus but his name is in the first sentence. However, the second half of the article is named "Act II - The Kobe Show".

Page 7: Edwin McGreal piece. "A debut to remember for not your ordinary Mayo teenager." I wonder who that would be about.""
The Western like all Mayo papers carry multiple GAA pages. You made it sound like all seven pages were about Kobe which they aren't. You have multiple contributors and of course Kobe is going to be a topic of conversation.

Anyway great to see you buying and reading Mayo papers. I always said the GAA coverage in the Western and Mayo News is second to none. Even club games get multiple pages which I don't see in most other counties.

Mayo GAA in general is always a huge topic of interest outside the county. Some people will always twist narratives to make fun of the supporters, players, games etc as they have always done and that's fine.

As I've always said, Mayo will be an object of mockery and fun until we win an All Ireland title. Some of that mockery though comes from counties who've none done much which is amusing.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11920 - 25/02/2026 16:51:01    2658613

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