Benny Coulter's ankle break is a clean one, so he could return to action in July.

The inspirational Mourne County attacker will definitely miss Down's Ulster SFC opener against Fermanagh on June 3rd - the first championship match he'll have sat out since making his senior intercounty debut in 2000 - but he told The Examiner that he plans to be back in action the following month:

"Happening so close to the championship, it's tougher to take. James [McCartan] and the management team had been handling me well and I felt I was coming into a real patch of sharpness and fitness.

"These things happen but hopefully it'll come on and heal well. The doctor told me it's a good, clean break and if it does heal I could be back in ten or twelve weeks.

"I'm not ruling myself out. All going well, I'll get game time in early July and hopefully we're still in the thick of things and doing well.

"I'm a quick enough healer and a lad in the club had the same problem and had no problems coming back. That's given me a good lift and the doctor has already said there will be no repercussions from it." Tweet

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