CLUBLY JUBBLY
Thompson excited by prospect of county action but first he’s giving his all to the Naomh Conaill cause
CIARAN THOMPSON has “huge appetite” for returning to Donegal training - but is happy he has to put it off for another couple of weeks yet.
GAA chiefs gave county panels the go-ahead on Saturday to reconvene having decided to press on with this year’s Championship.
But Thompson’s immediate focus is on the Donegal SFC final after capping his man of the match display with a winning point for Naomh Conaill against St Eunan’s.
“We will just be focusing on the club championship for the next two weeks,” confirmed Thompson. “That’s the main priority and I’m sure Donegal manager Declan Bonner will understand that.”
Thompson did not start Sunday’s semi-final thriller after picking up a calf strain against Glenfinn but put a lot of work in to be able to play some part.
He added: “It was all about the collective. It was just a phenomenal effort with every man dying for every play and every ball.”
St Eunan’s had led by three points but a controversial late goal brought Naomh Conaill level before Thompson struck.
They now play Kilcar, who beat Gaoth Dobhair on Saturday, in the decider as Naomh Conaill go for two in a row.
“We have built up a lot of character over the years,” Thompson said. “We have been in a lot of finals. Unfortunately we lost a few but we won last year. We are confident with the ability of the squad, confident in the management and we are delighted to be in another final. You can’t win them unless you are in them.”
Thompson, 24, is now hoping Government restrictions are lifted for sporting events and that there will be some supporters allowed in for the county final.
“You definitely miss not having them there, it is so different without the supporters,” he said.
“It’s all about the parish, they live for it every year so hopefully they will get in for the final and we will try and make the most of it.”
And once that final is out of the road, Thompson can’t wait to get going for Donegal in the Ulster Championship.
“Definitely, there is a huge appetite to play it,” he said. “That will be the feeling in every county now that there is absolute certainty it is going ahead.”
He admits the knockout format really appeals to the players – even if it takes away the safety net for Donegal and Tyrone who collide in Ulster.
Thompson added: “It’s going to be an absolute dogfight against Tyrone the first day.
That will bring an edge to the Championship.”