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26th February 2017
03:50pm GMT

'Anyone who needs this explaining to them is not a football person,' that's all that needed to be said.It's hard to do justice to how good Ciarán McDonald was and presumably still is. His passing was an absolute dream - he made anything possible, he literally forced boys into better positions. The top of his laces, we'll never see the like of it again. His scores, mouthwatering. His attitude, his physicality, relentless.
Back in 2004, Ireland welcomed Australia to Croke Park for the International Rules Series and the southern hemisphere outfit were torn a new one in the first test.
Ciarán McDonald absolutely ripped them to pieces in that initial meeting. He destroyed them, winning marks, finding marks 60 yards further down the field, making tackles and leading the way. It was a defining performance in the history of those exchanges. Before the second test threw-in, the Aussies attacked the Mayo man.
Herds of them piled on top of the centre half forward and gave him a good beating. He was targetted, of course he was, and it was downright nasty. When order finally restored minutes and minutes later, McDonald got up, puffed out his chest and just marched back into position.
He proceeded to pick them apart once more. Ireland won the second test too.
Now the great man is back with his club, back with a size five between his hands, back to leave GAA fans and players drooling and spinning.
https://twitter.com/mayonewssport/status/835844599344136193
A call-up to Stephen Rochford's ranks at this stage is probably too much of an ask. But, hey, they do need a forward. And a man with his skill is a timeless footballer.
A man with his appetite is still savage.
Ciarán McDonald is back playing football and all is right with the world again. Here's a recap of his utterly brilliant interview on Second Captains Live from two years ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQksCHa9fGQExplore more on these topics: