League Sunday panel on Mayo 'superstar' McDonald
What a telling impact it was. From five possessions, Mayo youngster Kobe McDonald bagged 1-04 in his senior debut for the county in Sunday's Division 1 league clash against Monaghan.
McDonald's goal was evidence of his prodigious talent, finishing low and hard past Farney keeper Kian Mulligan.
On RTÉ's Allianz League Sunday, both Ciarán Whelan and Enda McGinley were full of praise for what the teenager served up in Clones, with Whelan saying: "He is obviously such a talent. He is the type of superstar Mayo really need and he can add so much to them, the type of superstar we want in our games."
Of course, McDonald is due to link up with AFL outfit St Kilda once he completes his Leaving Cert in June.
"You can't stand in the young kid's way and he has to make decisions that are right for him," the former Dublin midfielder added, while also expressing a view that many in the Connacht county are no doubt hoping for.
"Everybody in Mayo would love to think he'd be wearing that green and red jersey for years to come because the impact he made today was phenomenal."
On McDonald's brilliant cameo, McGinley said: "You want to protect a young player like that, protect him from the hype, and then you throw him on and he goes and does that. For Andy Moran, there is no protecting now.
"To be fair the freedom in his play and the photo of the wristband he was wearing had legacy on it. It's a big pressure to put on his shoulders but it's fantastic for us as supporters. You have to love seeing talent like that."
