Insight.
Mayo boss Andy Moran gave another wide-ranging interview since taking the reins from Kevin McStay.
The two-time All Star is popular among supporters, and his assured but warm manner bodes well for the players under his command.
In his conversation with SportsJOE he covered topics ranging from AFL star Oisín Mullin coming back to train with the team, the return of the likes of Cillian O’Connor, and the unfair outside opinions of Aidan O’Shea.
But what most fans still want to know about when it comes to the Mayo senior side, is the status of AFL-bound Kobe McDonald, who they hope will play a part in the championship before leaving for St Kilda.
Moran spoke highly of the 18-year-old star – the son of Mayo icon Ciarán McDonald – and the role that he and the management have to play in his development.
He said: “I think that’s on us in terms of the management team, how we’re going to manage him and how we’re going to look after him. Our job is to look after him and to use him as we see fit.
“He comes from a famous family anyway in terms of his brother and his dad. So there was going to be pressure on Kobe anyway, but the fact that he’s a really good footballer kind of mounts that up.
“Listen, he’s a young kid, he’s very mature, he’s a great fella, but we need to give him space, let him do his Leaving Cert, let him play his football for Gortnor Abbey. And as I’ve said in many interviews this morning, let him play basketball for Gortnor Abbey because he likes that as well, and just fit him in as we see fit and what works around his schedule as well.
“For a fella that there’s so much talk about, he just comes in, carries himself well and fits in with the group, no airs or graces, trains like an animal, kind of leads and goes home, doesn’t ask for anything special, doesn’t do anything, just comes in and plays football.”
@mayogaacult Kobe McDonald vs Ballina #Mayogaa #crossmolina #ballina #gaa ♬ original sound – Mayo GAA cult
Moran previously stated that St Kilda were eager for McDonald to continue his rise in the GAA world before leaving for Australia, and Moran reiterated these wishes.
He added: “I’ve had one conversation with Kilda. Again, as I’ve stated, they want him playing football. They want him to keep the levels he’s been at.
“They know they’ve got an article that has been developed through this [the GAA], so they don’t want that to take a break for a year, they want him to be the same next August or September.
“There’s no problem with St Kilda, we just need to mind him and protect him as best we can and bring him into the fray when we need him.”
