Ashling Thompson relishing Croke Park return

Ashling Thompson hopes her next trip to Croke Park will be as successful as her last outing at Jones Road.

Thompson captained Cork to All-Ireland camogie glory in September, and next month, she returns to GAA HQ with Milford targeting a club crown.

The county side return to National League action but Thompson wouldn’t be part of their plans until after their decider with Galway side Killimor on March 6.

“It’s great to be back talking about Cork, but my focus is totally on Milford,” explained Thompson, “I really can’t wait to get back to the county scene,” added the 25-year-old.

“I haven’t seen much of the county team as we are into the All-Ireland final. My focus is totally on my club for now, which is understandable and we have always agreed on the same thing every year.” Thompson could yet see county action against Westmeath on March 13.

“I could be back the following weekend after the All-Ireland final, It depends how the final goes. If we win, I will probably play the league that weekend, but a defeat would probably knock me back a small bit.

“I don’t think I would be mentally ready to go straight into it (if we lost). Whatever the outcome, I would like to get back pretty quickly. I’m not going to be taking too much time off.”

Thompson feels that her Cork team-mates are well able to handle her absence.

“I would be fairly confident that we (Cork) could at least make the semi-finals,” declared Thompson.” I don’t doubt them, they have the full ability to do the job themselves, and they just have to believe that.

“You know even the likes of Briege Corkery and Gemma O’Connor and a few of those girls, they’ve been going so long, that they need a break too. I think it will give them a lift when we all come back.”