Two Mayo teenage stars in for Young Footballer of the Year
The starboys shone and lit up Croke Park as Andy Moran’s men downed Kerry to bring Sam Maguire home
Two of Mayo’s brightest young footballing talents have seen their sizzling showings across the 2026 Championships rewarded with nominations for the Young Footballer of the Year award.
Andy Moran’s battalion was festooned with talent of all ages across the board this campaign. Ultimately, every single player contributed massively to tearing up any talk of curses and famines as they achieved immortality.
However, so much of the side’s success was built on youth, and a pair of these protegées have been recognised by those who decide the nominees.
We’ll start with Darragh Beirne. A proud Claremorris man, this tyro came up with no shortage of clutch moments in his first season of senior inter-county fare.
From his first League game in Salthill, where he rattled the net, Beirne went on a scoring spree, showing a warrior’s spirit in the white-hot heat of battle against so many top defenders, raising huge tallies for someone so young.
However, his crowning moment came in white against the standard-bearers of the game, Kerry. With the weight of the world on his shoulders, he let fly and found the net in a moment that will live in the history books forevermore.
Then, there’s Kobe McDonald. Such is the Crossmolina cub’s fame that if you mention his name on this isle, few will even think of the greatest basketballer of all time with the same forename.
This boy can play and then some. From the moment he lit up Clones in his debut, he has set tongues wagging and they haven’t stopped since. His big moments have been integral to reaching the summit and casting aside the weight of history, and he did so with a smile on his face and that iconic finger wag.
Also nominated is talented Louth youngster Dara McDonnell.
Both Beirne and McDonald will be vying to join Keith Higgins, Cillian O’Connor, Diarmuid O’Connor, and Oisín Mullin on the roll of honour.
The winner will be revealed at the All-Star Awards night in the RDS Dublin on Sunday, October 30. The event will be broadcast live on RTÉ.