Retired Down legend Benny Coulter is irreplaceable, according to his former Mourne County team-mate Danny Hughes.

Mayobridge ace Coulter yesterday drew the curtain down on his 14-year senior intercounty career and Hughes was quick to pay tribute to his former intercounty captain:

"Benny was top-class," he notes in The Belfast Telegraph. "When we were absolutely rubbish, he was one of the few top-class players we had. Unfortunately there are no more Benny Coulters coming through and he is irreplaceable. You can't replace Benny.

"The likes of him aren't there in Down, at least at the minute. Not only did he fulfil his underage reputation, but he turned into being a great player even for Ireland. And we got to see it on a week-in, week-out basis.

"I think that he could have been used a lot more last year. He should have been used at midfield. Benny, by his own admission, might say that he no longer has the searing pace he used to have.

"But I still think he could have offered a fantastic midfield option last year which he didn't really have that opportunity."

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