McDonald given permission to resume GAA club action
AFL club St Kilda has granted permission for Irish players Kobe McDonald, Eamonn Armstrong, and Liam O'Connell to return to Ireland to play for their local GAA clubs. The players are expected to return to Australia in November for pre-season training.
Why it matters
This reflects the balance between professional sports commitments and the cultural importance of local community sports in Ireland.
Mayo All-Ireland winner Kobe McDonald has been given the green light by AFL club St Kilda to play with his club Crossmolina for the remainder of their club championship campaign.
The Deel Rovers side will be hoping to secure their spot in the knockout rounds when they face Mayo Gaels this weekend, and they should have their star youngster amongst their ranks.
As reported by the Irish Examiner , McDonald, who had been given permission to remain with Mayo for the 2026 season after signing with the Melbourne club last November , and fellow Irish St Kilda players Eamonn Armstrong and Liam O'Connell will now line out with their clubs over the coming weeks.
Armstrong plays with Duleek Bellewstown in Meath while O'Connell is a member of Ballincollig in Cork.
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