By Michael McMullan
CIARÁN Thompson admits Kerry were the better team on All-Ireland final day, something Donegal have to make peace with and look ahead to righting the wrongs in 2026.
Losing the season’s biggest game was a double disappointment for the Naomh Conaill man who was forced off before half-time with a cruciate ligament injury.
With the operation behind him, recovery is the key word in Thompson’s vocabulary after having been an ever-present since coming into the Donegal squad.
“It’s been a difficult few months there,” Thompson said at Tuesday’s launch of the Dr McKenna Cup in Armagh.
“Going back into the club it takes your mind off it a bit and we won the championship there as well so that was a lift.
“Once you’re back now in pre-season it comes back again. It was a bad day at the office, but listen, 2026 brings new challenges now and I’m looking forward to the year ahead.”
It has been a period to remember for Donegal with a return to Division One football, glory in Ulster and a run to the All-Ireland final.
It sent the county into a frenzy of excitement but from the moment Dylan Geaney kicked the Kingdom ahead in the first minute of the final, the Ulster champions were playing catch up.
“When you’re looking back, you still have to look at it as a positive year for Donegal, winning back-to-back Ulster championships, coming through some really tight games that we might not have come through in the last couple of years.
“I suppose on the day, just Kerry on with a better team and you just have to make peace with that and look forward now to next year and hopefully righting a few wrongs.”
Donegal will open their new season with a Dr McKenna Cup opener against neighbours Derry in Letterkenny’s O’Donnell Park on Sunday, January 4.
Thompson won’t be in the plans of manager Jim McGuinness until later on in the season but he is optimistic that he can be of value in the championship.
“Only getting to play about 20 minutes in the All-Ireland final was hard to take.
“I took a few weeks after that and just got it sorted then at the end of August.
“I’m coming up to about four months (post op). Everything’s going well, so I’m moving on the right track.
“I have a few targets to hit now over the next few months and hopefully be back around spring, summer time.
“You have small wee targets to hit every couple of weeks and small gains is all you’re looking for and that you’re on the right track.
“That’s all you can do; you have to stay dedicated to the rehab just and it’s all going well so far.”
McGuinness remains as manager for a third year but there is some change with Patrick McBrearty retiring and others stepping away, while there are a cohort of his Naomh Conaill teammates looking to break through.
“It is positive.
“We’ve had maybe 20-25 boys up on trial and a lot of them have come through so it’s nearly a new-look squad there and that brings a freshness to it and that brings its own excitement.
“You’re looking forward to seeing boys stepping up and some of those new players getting game time.
He added: “Shea Malone, Kieran Gallagher, Ultan Doherty and Max Campbell (from Naomh Conaill) are new to the panel this year so I’m looking forward to seeing those boys get a run out and see how they go.”
