GOALSCORING DOWN KING Benny Coulter has announced his retirement from the inter-county game. The Mayobridge club man revealed the decision in an official statement released by Down GAA this afternoon.
Coulter retires as one of the best players never to have won an All-Ireland senior football title or a provincial senior football crown. A brilliant attacker, Coulter was renowned for his goalscoring ability as he raised 18 green flags during his championship career with Down. Here’s a few of his most memorable scores:
Coulter lost out in Ulster finals with Down in 2003 against Tyrone after a replay and in 2012 against Donegal.
The closest he came to landing Sam Maguire was in 2010 when Down lost out by 0-16 to 0-15 against Cork in the All-Ireland decider. Coulter’s performances in 2010 were rewarded with an Allstar award at the end of that season.
He won Ulster and All-Ireland medals at minor level in 1999, scoring 1-2 in that final win over Mayo. That same year Coulter played senior football for Down despite being still eligible for the minor grade.
Coulter lined out for Ulster in the Railway Cup where he landed four titles and at club level, he won eight county senior medals with Mayobridge. Coulter was also selected to represent Ireland in the International Rules in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2010.
Here’s the full statement that Coulter has issued upon his retirement:
“It is with a heavy heart that I have made the decision to retire from inter-county footballer. I have enjoyed immensely my time as an inter-county footballer but after 15 seasons I have decided that the time has come to allow a younger breed of Down footballer the chance to make their mark.
“I would like to thank a number of people from the bottom of my heart for the support that they have given me over the years.
“My club Mayobridge first gave me my love of Gaelic football and to all the mentors who spent time over the years moulding me into the player and person I became I am most grateful. I will continue to give of my best in the Sky Blue of Mayobridge for as long as team mentors feel I can make a positive contribution.
“My minor manager Gerry Dougherty brought me to All Ireland minor Glory and allowed me to sample what it was like to win an All Ireland minor medal.
“Peter McGrath gave me my first taste of senior inter-county football and I will always thank Pete for that opportunity. Paddy O Rourke was a great help to me in football terms and on a personal level and I have many fond memories of my time working with Paddy and his management team.
“Ross Carr and DJ Kane were my next managers and we too had many good days especially the victory over Tyrone in Newry in 2008.
“In 2010 I was privileged and honoured to lead my county in the All-Ireland final and I will always regret that we failed to deliver on the day, I am indebted to James McCartan for the support he gave me in the five years that he was team manager. I had played with James and it was an absolute honour to have worked with him as manager.
“I would like to place on record my thanks to the Down county board for supporting me throughout my playing career I was looked after at all times in the best possible manner.
“To the medical teams over the years I thank you all for the care and attention given to me. I thank the Down supporters who always were there for me and lifted my spirits many times at crucial stages in games or when I was preparing to enter the fray.
“To my family and in particular my mother and father who supported me all through my county career I offer a heartfelt thanks you certainly helped make it easy for me to be an inter-county footballer.
“I wish the present Down panel and manager Jim McCorry every success in the season ahead, those boys are like my brothers and I will be supporting them fully throughout the year ahead.”
Good article, thanks Garry. Besides the strength in depth and consistently good results, the pleasing thing for me is the style of play. They get the ball out wide quickly and into the hands of Balaucoune, Stockdale and Lowry etc. Burns is underrated outside Ulster, he plays a massive role in launching the attacks. As for the Ireland call ups, I’ll say nothing.
@Sustainable Hedgehog: I’m happy seeing Burns stay at Kingspan. Every player we send to an extended squad session in Dublin seems to come back injured. Bobby B is the latest.
@Trevor Johnston: the 2017 game in which Zebre beat Ulster was a strange game. Ulster played almost the whole game with 14 players and had a couple of tries disallowed.
@Trevor Johnston: The downside of Ulster players being overlooked by Ireland is that the likes of Cooney might be tempted by a payday in France. McCloskey would be in demand over there too.
@Sustainable Hedgehog: That’s the danger. If JC goes to France I would fully support him. He has been a great servant of the Ulster Rugby and certainly owes nothing to the IRFU.
@Trevor Johnston: 100% agree regarding Cooney. Anyway lads pretty certain that our big name signing for after the WC is PSDT, now that is an exciting addition.
@Kingshu: on top of Kitshoff?
@Patrick Breen: yeah Kitshoff wasnt the big name signing another one in lock/backrow was rumoured to be it.
@Patrick Breen: Vermuen and Carter’s replacements apparently.
@Trevor Johnston: in squad strength terms DV replaced by PSDT, Carter replaced by Roux, and Kitschoff a bonus.
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@Niall Daly: two points well made.