Down marksman Coulter unwilling to succumb to the burden of history

MUCH has been made of Down’s championship pedigree against Kerry since last Sunday’s draw but history of a more recent variety will have to change if the Ulster county is to maintain those bragging rights.

Down haven’t won a game at Croke Park since 1994, when they claimed the last of their five All-Ireland titles. They have played three times at HQ since, losing all three.

It took them a decade to return to Jones’ Road after that memorable win over Pat O’Neill’s Dubs 16 years ago and that particular afternoon ended with a defeat to Offaly in the National League. Three years later and it was the same disappointing result, with Wexford getting the better of them in the All-Ireland qualifiers and the unwanted hat-trick was completed earlier this season with a Division Two final loss to Armagh.