Mayo’s great hope Kobe McDonald set to sign for AFL side

A monumental loss.

The Irish Examiner have reported that Kobe McDonald is set to sign for an AFL side.

The son of Mayo great, Ciarán McDonald, is seen as one of the best Gaelic football prospects in recent memory, after a standout season with the Crossmolina Deel Rovers' senior side.

There had been speculation in recent months over a move Down Under for the 17-year-old, and it now looks like a deal with Melbourne, whom he visited earlier in the year, will be announced in the next week.

We reported previously on some of McDonald's club performances, including a 1-5 man of the match showing in Crossmolina's Mayo SFC clash against Belmullet.

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Former Mayo player and coach of Cuala footballers, Austin O'Malley, summed up the talent of the young man.

He said: “He’s just the real deal.

“The little bit of software up top seems to be really, really good in terms of his composure and his decision-making.

“So, he is the most exciting thing I’ve seen in a jersey in quite a while.”