Down captain Benny Counter says winning the McKenna Cup wouldn't excite him.

The Mourne County have made a flying start to the subsidiary provincial competition with thumping wins over Armagh and Monaghan and they will complete their Section B programme against St Mary's in Pairc Esler tomorrow night.

But, in an interview with hoganstand.com, veteran attacker Coulter insists the McKenna Cup is simply a means to an end and that Down's focus for the year is very much elsewhere:

"It's not that important to us. We won't be bothered whether we win it or not.

"We are going to get a minimum of four games out of it and that's all we wanted. To win it would be of absolutely no relevance whatsoever.

"It's all about getting good performances out of the lads and blending the young lads into the team. From that point of view, it has been good for Down and the new lads have played well.

"We have played Armagh and Monaghan and we probably have Derry to come at the weekend. Those are three decent games against very good teams and that sets us up nicely for Donegal in the first round of the national football league on February 4th.

"That's when the season starts."

The full interview with Benny Coulter will be posted on Friday, kick-starting hoganstand.com's new 'Friday Interview' series. Tweet

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