Benny Coulter believes Down can bounce back from their Ulster SFC disappointment today.

Eamonn Burns' charges put one over the Farney County in the Ulster SFC semi-final and former Mourne County great Coulter thinks they can repeat the trick in this evenings All-Ireland SFC qualifier at Croke Park.

"Monaghan don't have as good a record at Croke Park as we do and they usually come unstuck around this time of year," he remarked to The Irish News.

"I would be confident of beating them but it's definitely going to be difficult mentally.

"I believe we have as good, if not better, players but beating them again is going to be a tough ask."

The Mayobridge clubman does, however, believe that the Farney County will be better prepared this time around.

"I don't think they knew much about Connaire Harrison, they maybe took him for granted.

"They were maybe saying to themselves 'we just have to mark Jerome Johnston'.

"Jerome is the best forward in Down and I think they took their eye off Connaire and Caolan Mooney's strong running and how well Kevin McKernan can get up and down the field in the sweeper role.

"They'll know all about that now, they'll know they have to stop McKernan building from the back and stop the ball going in to Harrison. They'll need to keep tight on Jerome Johnston again. Malachy O'Rourke will have all those things covered now."

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