JIM MCGUINNESS beamed at Ciaran Thompson’s first championship goal as Donegal blew Louth away to power into the All-Ireland quarter-finals.
The Ulster champions saw off the kings of Leinster in style in a riproaring second half in Ballybofey, as Thompson marked his 50th championship appearance with a green flag.
Oisín Gallen got back to his best with 0-5 as a dozen Donegal players scored to see off Ger Berannan’s men by 16 points.
And McGuinness gushed at Naomh Conaill clubmate Thompson for producing the goods, as his smashing second half strike killed the game.
He said: “Brilliant, brilliant. Listen, Tomo offers us so much and he’s so consistent and so honest and so brave.
“He punches way above his weight in the skies to be honest with you, with a lot bigger fellas out there.
“But delighted to see him get a goal as well because that’s the first goal he’s ever scored in championship football, so it’s a good day all round for Ciarán.”
And boss McGuinness gushed at fan favourite Finnbarr Roarty too.
The Glenties teen sensation, 19, has been magnificent in the Donegal defence since making his SFC debut against Derry this summer and fired 0-2 in another sizzling performance yesterday.
He said: “He’s a huge favourite there with the crowd because he’s just so honest and works so hard and he wins balls and he turns balls over that probably he shouldn’t at times, and he’s so young.
“He’s like a breath of fresh air for everybody watching him. But for me the most important adjustment that he’s made is on the ball.
“He’s always been a brilliant tenacious defender the whole way up through the ranks but now he’s playing at senior Inter-County level and he’s difficult to take the ball off as well.
“And no matter how good you are defensively if you’re going to give the ball away in attacking phases you know it can cost the team.
“But he’s been excellent at that and very good agility and very good at avoiding tackles and he adds so much to our attack with Ciarán Moore and these other fellas coming from deeper positions.”
And McGuinness hopes his men are granted a Sunday fixture this weekend after this morning’s quarter-final draw, as they face their third championship game in 14 days.
He added: “I think every county in Ireland will be hoping for a Sunday fixture, I don’t think there will be too many saying we’re happy for Saturday. But listen, we’ll wait to see what that brings.”
