Mayo star Kobe McDonald celebrates All-Ireland triumph before joining St Kilda in Australia

County Mayo broke a 75‑year All‑Ireland football drought on 26 July 2026, defeating Kerry in front of more than 82,000 spectators at Croke Park. 18‑year‑old forward Kobe McDonald scored a decisive point and praised the team’s unity, saying he wanted to “soak every single bit” of the victory.

McDonald, who signed a contract with AFL club St Kilda last year, will complete his Leaving Cert in Ireland before relocating to Melbourne with his family in the coming weeks. His father, former Ireland International Rules player Ciaran McDonald, and St Kilda talent‑manager Graeme Allan were present at the final, highlighting the cross‑code pathway from Gaelic football to the Australian Football League.

The move marks the latest example of Irish GAA talent heading to the AFL, following players such as Liam O’Connell and Oisin Mullin, and underscores the growing recruitment links between Mayo, the Irish Gaelic football system and St Kilda.