Mayo football forward Kieran McDonald has given up his involvement with the county panel. There are conflicting reports of how long he will be absent from the inter-county scene but McDonald has not trained with or played for the county since Christmas. Personal reasons have been given as the motive for the departure.
County chairman P J McGrath told local media at the weekend that the Crosmolina player "was no longer on the panel", wasn't expected to return this season and that he was considering emigrating to Australia. Despite being named at full forward for both the Sean Flanagan Cup match against Dublin and the FBD League fixture with Leitrim, McDonald didn't turn up. Team manager John Maughan was, however, dismissive of at least some of the story. "It's absolutely the first I've heard of him going to Australia and I'd bet a million dollars he's not. Who am I to say what a guy's going to do but I've heard nothing about this. Kevin hasn't trained since Christmas but I expect him back in due course, within the next few weeks."
McGrath denied that the player's action was influenced by an alleged rift with the Mayo management, culminating in his being substituted during the National League match with Kildare before Christmas. McDonald was not available for comment.
He has had a chequered career with Mayo. Despite being regarded as one of the most talented forwards in the county his exploitation of this potential has been inconsistent. McDonald made his championship debut in 1994 but had emigrated to the US by the time Mayo reached the 1996 All-Ireland final which was lost to Meath after a replay.
The following year, when the county again reached the All-Ireland final, McDonald made a substantial contribution with good performances against Galway and especially Offaly. His final performance was, however, disappointing despite his goal from a penalty kick.
Last year he was Mayo's most prominent performer in the first-round match against eventual All-Ireland winners Galway. In their meeting in Castlebar in May, he scored two goals and hit the crossbar in the second half - a let-off Galway readily identified as the turning point in their victory. He was chosen as the top forward in Mayo for 1998. If McDonald's withdrawal proves long-term, it will be a blow for Maughan as shortcomings up front have dogged the team since its breakthrough three years ago. At present Kevin O'Neill, one of the few other top-class forwards available to Mayo, is injured.
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and GAA president Joe McDonagh were both in attendance at yesterday's launch of the 1999 Bus Eireann Fitzgibbon Cup third-level hurling competition. Details of the draw for what Comhairle Ard Oideachais chairman Des Cullinane described as "this most historic of GAA hurling competitions" were announced.
Two of the first-round fixtures are local affairs. Trinity play UCD and will be thinking back to their victory in The Irish Times Colours match of just over a year ago for inspiration against the more fancied Belfield outfit. In the west, UCG take on the Galway Institute of Technology.
This year's final weekend will be hosted on February 27th and 28th by the Garda College in Templemore.
The death has occurred at his home in Kilbarron, Feakle last Saturday of John James Loughnane, father of Clare hurling manager Ger. In his 80th year, John James was an original member of the famed Tulla Ceili Band and played with them at the celebrations to welcome home the 1995 All-Ireland-winning Clare team, managed by his son. The funeral is concelebrated today at 11.30 in St Mary's Church Feakle.
