Revitalised Coulter hails the Tally effect

DOWN’S Benny Coulter has attributed his spectacular return to form to a man who played a pivotal role when Saturday’s opponents Tyrone made the breakthrough to win a first All-Ireland title.

Paddy Tally trained the Red Hand county during that historic 2003campaign before being relieved of his duties by Mickey Harte a year later. Now he is central to the Down cause.

And Coulter’s tour de force against Donegal in Ballybofey at the end of May, when he scored 1-4, was crucial to his Mourne men’s progression to this weekend’s Ulster semi-final against Tyrone. It was a welcome sight after a couple of years dogged by injuries and proof that the 28-year old still has much to offer after a decade playing senior inter-county football.

“Paddy Tally has come in this year doing a lot of stretching, and a lot of things that maybe weren’t done inprevious years, so a lot of it has to go down to Paddy,” he said. “The only injury we have had this year wasAmbrose (Rogers) and that was a broken bone in the foot so there’s not much you can do with that.”

Coulter’s rejuvenation is just one reason why Down will be confident of upsetting the odds in Belfast. The return from Australia of Martin Clarke is another. The former Collingwood AFL player is still integrating himself back into the world of Gaelic football but he has already shown glimpses of his potential.

His duel with marker Barry Dunnion was an intriguing subplot to the Donegal game and his intelligence in open play is complemented by an impressive ability from dead balls which deserted him temporarily in Ballybofey.

“He’s very strong on the ball, can pick a pass out, can score points and can kick frees from right or left,” said Coulter. “He’s only going to improve and he’s enjoying himself.”

Clarke gave up a promising career in professional sport to return to Ireland and wear the famous red and black but rumours of a possible return to AFL have been persistent and the player himself hasn’t ruled another move out.

Coulter has heard the speculation and said: “There are a lot of rumours that he is going to go back. He is very close with their head coach out there. It wouldn’t surprise me but he hasn’t said anything to us yet.”

Current manager James McCartan was still in his playing prime the last time Down claimed an Ulster title and the Mourne men face an unenviable task in trying to bridge that gap.

On Saturday evening in Belfast they play the provincial champions in the first of the northern semi-finals. Win that and the odds are they will have to face Monaghan in the decider, probably in their Clones backyard.

Seamus McEnaney’s men have yet to reach that juncture, of course, and Fermanagh will be doing everything in their power to stop them, but it is difficult to see that happening given Monaghan’s destruction of Armagh.

Coulter admits that raised the bar.

“Armagh beat us (in the Division Two NFL final) and then Monaghan trounced Armagh so it was just one of those results you did not see coming,” the Down forward said. “It would not have surprised me if Monaghan had beaten Armagh but what did surprise me was the actual score line. You would have to see Monaghan maybe sitting there as favourites for an Ulster title after that. Wee Tommy (Freeman) inside was super again, Dick Clerkin kicking balls over the bar, (Paul) Finlay, some great performances.”

The margin of victory wasn’t the only surprise that day in Casement Park. The free-flowing nature of the game was an even bigger shock to anyone who had seen the sides contest an All-Ireland qualifier the year before.

The Mayobridge man made the headlines last week when bemoaning the negativity of modern-day football and he is likely to find Tyrone a tougher nut to crack than Donegal.

“It’s hard to know. Tyrone drop men back. We have played them this last couple of years and they have been high-scoring games, so I’m hoping it will be a free flowing game but Ulster championship games aren’t like that.”