Home draw in Ballybofey a fitting reward after victory over Mayo – Thompson

Donegal forward Ciaran Thompson hailed the character shown by his side after Sunday’s dramatic one-point win over Mayo secured a place in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals - and sent the Connacht side crashing out of the championship.
Mayo had drawn level with just seconds left on the match clock, but Shaun Patton’s swiftly taken kickout found Ciaran Moore and the St Eunan’s man turned on the afterburners, surging forward to hit the winning point after the hooter sounded, providing the decisive score in a pulsating encounter at Dr Hyde Park.
Thompson was quick to heap praise on the half-back’s match-winning moment.
“Ah, it was brilliant, unbelievable,” Thompson said post-match. “Serious legs to get up from half back, and then the composure to stick it over was savage.
“Fair play to him.”
The win sees Donegal finish second in Group 3, earning them a coveted home tie in Ballybofey next weekend against Louth.
Thompson, who is set to make his 50th championship appearance for the county on Sunday, knows just how significant that is.
“It’s massive to get a home draw in Ballybofey,” he said. “You could see what the crowd gave us today, and it'll be the same again next weekend.”
Wearing 11 on his back but playing in the middle eight and covering every blade of grass, Thompson hit a point in either half in Donegal’s 0-19 to 1-15 win.
Donegal had led by three at the break after a smartly-managed first half into the wind, but the second period saw Mayo hit the front with a breakaway goal.
“It was tough and we had to work the ball a lot closer into goal,” Thompson said of the opening 35 minutes. “We did well and were pleased to go in three points up.
“In the second half, Mayo came at us hard and we found it tough at times to get into the scoring positions.”
Still, Donegal found a way, showing purpose and calmness to quickly reel Mayo back in after they got the game’s only goal and eventually edge ahead again before the Connacht men equalised late on.
“Aye, we went two points down but fought back to level and went ahead again,” Thompson said. “It was a great response, and that’s what you need when you concede a goal, especially against a team like Mayo when they get their tails up.”
The win marked Donegal’s first championship victory over Mayo since the 2012 All-Ireland final. There have been three knockout defeats to the Westerners since - in 2013, 2015 and 2019.
“It’s always good to get one over on one of your rivals, and to finish second and get the home draw is massive,” the Naomh Conaill man added.
Donegal GAA statistician Fr Seán Ó Gallchóir tell us that since his debut against Dublin in the 2016 All-Ireland quarter final, Ciaran Thompson has played in every one of Donegal's championship matches since.
It’s a remarkable run by the quietly spoken Glenties man who reaches the half century of championship appearances this weekend.
With his leadership and consistency, Thompson has established himself as one of the central pillars of Jim McGuinness’s second era in charge.