Thompson played for his club in the final of the 2015 Donegal SFC. His club won.[8] Then he played for his club in the final of the 2019 Donegal SFC. His club won, following a second replay.[9] Then Thompson played for his club in the 2020 Donegal SFC final. His club won, following extra-time and a penalty shoot-out.[10]
Then he played for his club in the 2022 Donegal SFC final. His club won.[11][12] Then he played for his club in the 2023 Donegal SFC final. His club won, and Thompson even scored a point.[13][14][15] Ahead of the 2023 final, Thompson (alongside Marty Boyle, Stephen McGrath, Leo McLoone and Eoin Waide) was recognised for making a 100th club championship appearance.[16]
Inter-county
After his club's 2005 Donegal SFC title win, Thompson was called into the Donegal senior team by manager Brian McIver.[17][18]
This section needs expansion with: more details about his early involvement with Donegal, particularly between 2007 and 2011. You can help by adding to it. (October 2023)
Under the management of Jim McGuinness, and in McGuinness's first season in charge, Thompson won the 2011 Ulster Senior Football Championship, playing and scoring two points in the final against Derry.[20][21] He played again when Donegal returned to the final in 2012.[22] Donegal defeated Down in that game.[23] Normally a quiet member of the team, in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship quarter-final defeat of Kerry at Croke Park on 5 August 2012, he knocked teammate Patrick McBrearty out of the game with his head.[24] He played in the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final against Mayo.[25] Donegal won.[26] Though nominated for an All Star he was not successful, but was selected as a replacement All Star for the Football Tour of New York when others such as Colm McFadden and Frank McGlynn were unable to attend.[27]
Thompson won his third Ulster Senior Football Championship in 2014, scoring one point against Monaghan in the final.[28] He played 52 of the 54 league and championship matches under McGuinness's management between 2011 and 2014, missing only two league games against Cork and Kerry due to injury; only goalkeeper Paul Durcan played in more games under McGuinness.[29]
Under the management of Rory Gallagher, who succeeded McGuinness ahead of the 2015 season, Thompson continued to play for his county. For much of Donegal's 2015 campaign, he commuted from his work base in Essex, England.[30][31] He moved back to Ireland in 2016.[31] His last appearance for Donegal during Gallagher's ill-fated managerial reign was against Dublin in the 2016 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship quarter-final defeat at Croke Park, a game in which he scored one point.[31]
Thompson returned to the fore under the management of Declan Bonner.[31][32] He collected his fourth and final Ulster SFC in 2018, appearing as a second half substitute for Odhrán Mac Niallais in the final against Fermanagh.[33] However, he did not return after the winter.[34]
Style of play
Thompson has been considered by national media to be "an invaluable leader", a "selfless player" and "one of the most iconic number 5s in the county's history".[32]
His virtuoso performance in the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final was highlighted by The Irish Times which noted how he "seemed to shepherd the play exactly to his liking and moved through the fare in that unhurried, three-quarters pace style of his", at one stage "loitering in front of David Clarke's goal, a de facto full forward doing what good front men do: keeping quiet as a church mouse and waiting to be spotted".[35] Despite playing at wing back, he was the first person to congratulate Michael Murphy following his early goal in that game, having raced through to offer support to his full-forward team captain.[32]
^"Thompson set to miss Cork game". Donegal Democrat. 14 March 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2013. Wing-back Anthony Thompson looks set to miss Donegal's crunch Division One Allianz League clash with Cork in Pairc Ui Rinn on Saturday. (Throw-in 5 pm)
^Keys, Colm (7 August 2012). "McBrearty shooting for the stars as he commits to Donegal cause". Irish Independent. Retrieved 7 August 2012. McBrearty was forced off for treatment in the first half after a collision with colleague Anthony Thompson left him slightly concussed, but he was able to play on. 'I'd a wee bit of concussion there. The quietest man on the team hit me! That was the last man I expected to be hitting me. It was just a wee clash of heads and nothing too harmful. I should be alright for three weeks' time', he confirmed.
^McNulty, Chris (15 April 2019). "Martin O'Reilly withdraws from Donegal squad". Retrieved 15 April 2019. 2012 All-Ireland winners Mark McHugh and Anthony Thompson did not return for the county this winter…
^"Seven county players gain Gaelic Life awards". Donegal News. 16 January 2020. p. 73. …Anthony Thompson, Ciaran Thompson from Naomh Conaill along with Buncrana's Caolan McGonagle were all named on the football team. The Thompsons and Caolan McGonagle were unable to attend the event though their awards were collected in their absence.
Above is the Donegal team that defeated Derry in the Ulster SFC final.
The 2011 Donegal football team progressed to the 2011 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-finals, where they lost narrowly to eventual title-winners Dublin. Donegal defeated Kildare after extra-time in the All-Ireland quarter-final.