Football

Ciaran Thompson: Donegal set to drive on

Donegal's Ciaran Thompson (left) up against Tyrone's Cathal McShane earlier this year. Picture by Seamus Loughran.
Donegal's Ciaran Thompson (left) up against Tyrone's Cathal McShane earlier this year. Picture by Seamus Loughran. Donegal's Ciaran Thompson (left) up against Tyrone's Cathal McShane earlier this year. Picture by Seamus Loughran.

In the considerable and unavoidable absence of the injured Paddy McBrearty, it is vital that Donegal has a left-footed free taker.

And, the towering Naomh Conaill star Ciaran Thompson more than fulfils this pretty basic requirement.

For Thompson is also able to land some soaring long-range points from play as he again showed in his county’s pretty easy Dr McKenna Cup win over a depleted Queen's University, Belfast side.

And he also picked up the 'Man of the Match' gong, narrowly pipping Michael Langan to the award.

Thompson is also a highly-mobile player in an exciting youthful squad who will get plenty of chances to impress in this year’s Dr McKenna Cup campaign.

“This was a good run out for our first competitive game and something we needed to get off the ground.

“But the thing for me is to hopefully keep building on it,” he stressed.

There were also a lot of new faces in the squad which gives the still pretty young Thompson an added fillip: “Yes there are quiet a few young lads on the squad and pushing hard for places and that can only be good.

“Competition for places raises standards so we al have to be the best we can be.

“Every man there is pushing it on and driving on every other man and that can only be good for the squad.”

When asked about the new rules he admitted that they were not really on his side’s radar.

“To be honest we have not concentrated on them very much,'' he said.

“The three hand-pass rule is the main big change and it is a bit awkward to get used to, but as the games gets on you will hopefully adapt to it a bit quicker.”

When asked if he would “mind if the rules continued through the National Football League (NFL), he was more frank: “To be honest I think it slows the game down.

“That is my view on it and I don’t know if they will also bring it in for the NFL.”

Still 21 points was a good return for Donegal and Thompson: “There is a lot of young talent in the county and that was a good score and there is a mountain of boys to come back in.

“There are quite a few Under 20’s and minors coming through and that is great to see.

“We were never really troubled in the game and had a big lead at half-time and that caused us to ease off a bit in the second half.

“We need to look at that now and drive it on.”

Next up for Thompson and Co is a much more difficult away assignment to Down where his management team will find out a little more about all those players who are trying to make their mark.