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 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.
McDonald attended Gortnor Abbey in Crossmolina, where he sat the Leaving Certificate in June 2026.
GAA Career Crossmolina Deel Rovers Underage McDonald won a Mayo Minor A championship in 2025. It was Crossmolina's first Minor A title in 32 years.
Senior McDonald started playing adult football with Crossmolina in 2025.
Mayo Underage Minor In 2024, McDonald won the Connacht Minor Football Championship 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 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.
Senior 2026 National League McDonald made his senior debut for Mayo in a league win over Monaghan on 22 February 2026, scoring 1-4. In his second league appearance, McDonald scored 0-02 in a win versus Armagh. McDonald’s final 2026 league appearance was in a 16 point loss to Kerry, he scored 0-01.
Connacht Senior Football Championship 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.
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 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.
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.
On 26 July 2026, McDonald won the 2026 All-Ireland Football Championship with Mayo, scoring 0-03 (1x45). He was selected at 15 in The Sunday Game 2026 Team of the Year.
AFL Career
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.
Underage GAA Statistics
TeamYearConnachtAll-IrelandTotalAppsScoreAppsScoreAppsScoreMayo Minor202300-0000–0000–00Mayo Minor202453-2121–0974–30Mayo U-20202600-0000–0000–00Total00-0000–0000–00
Senior GAA Statistics
TeamYearFBD Insurance LeagueNational LeagueConnachtAll-IrelandTotalAppsScoreDivisionAppsScoreAppsScoreAppsScoreAppsScoreMayo202600-00Division 131–0710–0661–22102–35Total00-00 31–0710–0661–22102–35
Championship appearances List of appearances Date Venue Opponent Score Result W/L/D Competition1 26 April 2026 MacHale Park Roscommon 0–06 1–18 : 2–25 L Connacht Semi-Final2 31 May 2026 St Tiernach's Park Monaghan 1–04 1–24 : 2–20 W All-Ireland Round 13 14 June 2026 Healy Park Tyrone 0–03 1–18 : 0–22 L All-Ireland Round 2A4 20 June 2026 MacHale Park Meath 0–04 0–22 : 2–13 W All-Ireland Round 35 27 June 2026 Croke Park Cork 0–04 0–23 : 0–18 W All-Ireland Quarter-Final6 11 July 2026 Croke Park Louth 0–04 3–23 : 0–15 W All-Ireland Semi-Final726 July 2026Croke ParkKerry0–031–20 : 1–17 WAll-Ireland Final
GAA Honours Mayo All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (1): 2026 Connacht Minor Football Championship (1): 2024
Crossmolina Deel Rovers Mayo Minor A Football Championship (1): 2025 Mayo Under 16 A Football Championship (1): 2023
References
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