Benny Coulter remains hopeful of playing for Down in this year's championship.

The full forward will miss his first Ulster SFC match since making his debut in 2000 when the Mourne County travel to Brewster Park to take on Fermanagh on Sunday week after breaking his ankle while playing for his club Mayobridge three weeks ago. But he is hoping for positive news when he has his cast removed at the Ulster Hospital on Friday.

"Hopefully it's coming on and knitting well," he said at the launch of the All Star School of Football in Cookstown yesterday.

"Any time I put a bit of weight on it, it's quite sore, but it was a clean break so it's not bad in that respect."

Coulter admits he is finding the build-up to the start of the championship difficult.

"It's a bit weird, I have nothing to focus on. I'm not really up for the championship at the minute, maybe because I'm not playing. I've been to all the Down training but it's not the same when you know you're not going to be involved in the first game.

"This is the time of year when everyone has a spring in their step and you're just sitting in the physio room passing the time away. It will probably take until Friday, to see when I can focus on getting back. Hopefully I will get a bit of good news and get planning for the summer." Tweet

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