Mayo boss Moran offers update on Kobe availability for All-Ireland series

THE dressing room area under the stand in St Tiernach's Park is well known to Andy Moran. The Ballaghaderreen man spent a season in the famous venue with the Monaghan team, and on Sunday he was back with his exciting Mayo team. 

The manager is always positive when he does post-match media duties, and the form was particularly good following his side's 19-point win in Clones.

The emphatic victory came a week after his side failed to fire in Letterkenny against Donegal and he was delighted with the improvement. 

"We were very disappointed last week if I'm being honest," the Mayo boss admitted.

"For the last 50 minutes of that game we were actually alright, but for the first 25 it just wasn't anywhere near where we wanted it to be.

"The boys trained really well Wednesday, trained really well Friday, came up here yesterday in great attitude,” he added before being asked about the match just concluded.

"That was a really, really good display. A lot of things to work on, but that was a really good display. 

Moran had been in the Monaghan ranks last year when they played some exciting, expressive football. The Ballaghaderreen man was in the different corner on Sunday and that took a bit of getting used to.

“It was different surely, coming in here today on a different bus. I didn't look down (at Monaghan) during the warm-up because I know so many of the lads, and I just concentrated on what we were doing oursleves.”

Finally, Moran was asked about the dynamic and sensational debut of teenage attacker Kobe McDonald.

The Deel Rovers attacker had bounced off the bench to kick 1-4 in his first appearance for the Green and Red and Moran was loud in his praose for the teenager.

"Kobe lost a Connacht final for Gortnor Abbey last week and he came straight in and trained with us on Wednesday and again on Friday. He wanted to play, he wanted to be part of the squad and came up with us last night. He wasn't here to make up the numbers.

“He's been doing this for a couple of years now in Mayo. But it's a big step up today and you're saying I was a marksman, I never did anything like that at 18 years of age.

"There's a big difference and he's honestly just a great fella. He wants to learn and he wants to be part of the team, so it's no surprise to us that he'd come out and perform like that. He has a lot going on. He's doing his Leaving Cert and will play with the Mayo U-20s and we have to look after him."

McDonald is already contracted to St Kilda in Australia, but Moran believes the teenager will be available to Mayo throughout the summer.

"Oh yeah, I think Crossmolina are hoping to have him in September, hopefully for the summer," he said when asked if the starlet would be hanging around.

"He'll probably head off then."