DONEGAL COULD HAVE to cope without 2012 All-Ireland winner Anthony Thompson for the coming season.
Thompson moved to the UK last October with his girlfriend and the 28 year-old defender is now working there.
New Donegal boss Rory Gallagher, who saw his side lose 1-16 to 0-8 against Derry in their opening match in the Dr McKenna Cup yesterday in Owenbeg, revealed that they will ‘monitor the situation’ but is planning without Thompson for the forseeable future.
Thompson was an integral part of the Donegal team under the stewardship of Jim McGuinness. The 28 year-old was a starting member of the teams that won the 2011, 2012 and 2014 Ulster senior titles and played in the half-back line when Donegal claimed the All-Ireland crown two years ago.
Last September Thompson was denied a second All-Ireland medal when Donegal lost out to Kerry in the decider. With his club Naomh Conaill, Thompson has won Donegal senior county titles in 2005 and 2010. Thompson’s clubmate Leo McLoone is currently taking an extended break but will return at some stage to the Donegal panel.
The future of another long-serving Donegal player remains unclear with Rory Kavanagh yet to make a decision on his future. Gallagher has allowed Kavanagh an extended break after a 2014 campaign that saw him contest the All-Ireland final with the county before his club St Eunan’s won the Donegal title and reached the Ulster club semi-final.
