Ashling Thompson: 'I've never felt so accomplished in my career than I have this year'

Cork's Ashling Thompson and Ailish O'Reilly of Galway. Picture: ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

A scene from the frantic closing moments of the 2022 All-Ireland camogie final involving Cork and victors Kilkenny.

Trailing by a point and desperate for an equaliser, Cork get the ball to Ashling Thompson but the Milford colossus strikes agonisingly wide of the posts at the Davin End.

Moments later, the full-time whistle blows and the 32-year-old starts walking towards the tunnel and doesn't stop. She eventually returns to the pitch to watch Kilkenny lift the cup and the desolation is compounded weeks later by ACL damage in a game for divisional side Avondhu.

Fast forward to last Sunday, two years on, and Thompson is Player of the Match in Cork's final win over Galway, helping to secure back-to-back titles. This time at the final whistle she explodes in emotion, firing her helmet away and crumpling to the turf in sheer joy and relief.

"Look, those moments happen," said Thompson when reminded about the difference between Sunday and two years ago. "I always remember Amy O'Connor saying in an interview after the 2022 final that she still wouldn't have wanted anyone else on the ball with that shot at the end, and that's the attitude that we have, it goes through the team. That's the sort of respect that we have for each other.

"And do you know what, it actually completely rolled off me (the miss). Things like that, you have to take it on the chin and move on. There's no point dwelling on it. Sport is cruel but at the end of the day, I have six All-Irelands in the bag now, so moments like that are worth it."

In a funny way, Thompson is even grateful for the ACL setback. It limited her to an impact sub role in the closing games of last year's All-Ireland win but the work she put in during that extended period on the sidelines has stood to her.

"There's never a moment in your career where you can take nine months out to focus fully on yourself," she said. "You're in the gym five and six days a week. You would never get that opportunity in your career unless you have a massive setback like I had. That's why I look at it in such a positive way, and not a negative, because I don't think I'd be in this position physically only for the ACL injury so I'm very grateful for it."

Just consider her 2024 stats after regaining full fitness. Between the National League and Championship, Thompson started 13 of Cork's 14 games this season - she came on against Clare in Round 4 of the league - and lined out in all nine of their Munster and All-Ireland games.

On Sunday, aside from scoring a point at a vital stage in the third quarter at Croke Park, she also struck the pass down the left wing for Amy O'Connor in the buildup to the match-winning goal.

Not bad for a 34-year-old who has just overcome an ACL layoff.

"This year, it's just a whole new accomplishment," said the 2015 All-Ireland winning captain. "I've never felt so accomplished in my career than I have this year.

"I've never appreciated it as much as I have this year. It's just been a very emotional journey. Look, it's definitely the sweetest. I've worked my ass off to get to where I am right now. I feel that even at 34 years of age, I'm probably the fittest, mentally and physically, that I've been. So I can't be anything but grateful."

To think that some wondered if she'd be back after the knee setback and general disappointment of 2022.

"It was my first major injury," said Thompson. "Everyone asked me, 'How do you keep going?' But it's setbacks like that that actually give you a whole new drive. It gives you a new hunger. I think this year again, thanks to the physios, the strength and conditioning coaches, the management, my team-mates, they all just helped to put me in a position physically where I'm probably at my best at the moment. And then to go out and do it on the day in Croke Park, it's everything you dream of."

Sunday's three-point final win, yielding a 30th All-Ireland for Cork, was their narrowest winning margin throughout the provincial or All-Ireland series. Some said they weren't truly tested until Sunday but Thompson doesn't fully agree.

"I wouldn't say we had it easy in the Championship, I think we set a massive tempo for any opposition that we came across. People probably said that we hadn't been tested but I think we just brought our game to another level. In fairness to Galway, they matched it. They threw the kitchen sink at us and to get over the line the way we did, I'd rather win an All-Ireland like that any day than win it by 15 points."