THE third member of his family to turn out for Donegal, Ciarán Thompson is hoping to use this season to stake a claim for a regular place.
The 20-year-old followed in the footsteps of elder siblings Anthony and Leon when Rory Gallagher handed him the number nine shirt last Sunday. He had just started to address the family tradition in his post-match interview - “We’re blessed. I don’t know where it came out of” - when his proud mother Mary, standing three feet away and focusing a camera on him, pops from behind it to leave him in no doubt - “your mother!”
One of seven Donegal debutants used in the Bank of Ireland Dr McKenna Cup 1-11 to 0-11 win over Down, the Naomh Conaill youngster kicked three points from play. He was awarded man-of-the-match from his side’s victory, whose decisive goal came just 68 seconds into the game from the left boot of Frank McGlynn.
While he is hoping for success from his final year of U21 football, Thompson is equally determined that he doesn’t pass up an early opportunity with the seniors: “It’s something special alright," he said.
"Even to be playing along with these boys is crazy. I can’t believe it really. But when you’re given your chance, you just do your best. I have to thank the bucks who put the points on a plate for me as well. I couldn’t have asked for much better. I’m happy to get my chance to get into the team and hopefully I can stake my claim for the rest of the year.
“You can’t miss the opportunity to be in with the seniors, it’s massive. The U21s is my age group too, though, you want to try and win that one and do well there. I’ll manage both as much as possible,” he added.
Fellow debutantes Danny Rodgers, Jack O’Brien, Eoghan Bán Gallagher, Michael Carroll, Stephen McBrearty and Cillian Morrison, the last of whom came off the bench late on, joined Thompson in making their first starts. The task facing them is formidable. Since Jim McGuinness took the reins in 2011 and now, through year two of Rory Gallagher’s subsequent tenure, Donegal’s Championship team has been arguably the most settled in the country.
With the likes of Neil Gallagher, Christy Toye, Martin McElhinney and their leader Michael Murphy all regularly featuring around the middle, Thompson has a battle on his hands. But the slight young left-footer hopes that, with performances such as his debut display, he can force his way into Gallagher’s long-term plans.
“It is [a big challenge], but we were given the shout that all the young bucks coming in had every chance to stake their claim," he said.
“I’ll play anywhere I get the chance at all. I’ll try and take my chance. That’s all you can do is go out and play. Hopefully, come the league or Championship, you have a chance to make some kind of impression throughout the year. That’s what it’s all about, to make sure I’m in his mindframe. Hopefully now, for the next game and the game after that, I’ll be in his mind and for the season ongoing.”
With Donegal U21s set to face the winner of the preliminary round clash of Derry and Antrim in March, Thompson has an eye on both. But having been excused from duty with Declan Bonner’s panel for a game on Saturday, the Glenties man says he is revelling in his busy schedule.
“There’s a tournament there [with the U21s] every Saturday, so I’ve to play the odd game there as well. But I can’t complain, I’m playing football and that’s what matters. That’s what I love,” he said.
So determined is the Glenties youngster to make it, he has taken a year out from his studies at Sligo IT, saying: “It was hectic enough and I wanted to focus on the football, so I took a year out to concentrate on different stuff.”
