FOR 12 years Declan Coulter was one of Armagh’s leading ash artists.
So it is only natural that he would have a sliver of mixed feelings for his old comrades after his adopted Donegal had a most comprehensive victory in Saturday’s Nicky Rackard Cup opener.
However, the very grounded Coulter was just taking it one game at a time ahead of this weekend’s round 2A clash with Tyrone.
“It was a good win in difficult conditions and it was a real dogfight as we knew what Armagh were going to bring,” said Coulter.
“We just had to match that and we did just that but we have been working hard and are getting over some injuries.
“I missed about a month there after tearing a calf muscle so personally it is just good to get back in there.
“We are not going to get carried away as it is only one victory and we are only into round two. We will assess it this week and see where we are.”
He admitted that there were mixed feelings playing against his native county.
“There is, before and after the game, but not for those 70 minutes.
“I have made a decision and I am up in Donegal this past few years and it was a lot of travelling up to Armagh.
“Armagh have a lot of real genuine hurling lads that I would have played against at club level and I have serious respect for them and also during the 12 years I played with Armagh.”
Coulter missed a few early chances and put this down to the occasion and opposition.
“I was a wee bit edgy and wanted to perform and it may have been partly down to the opposition.
“But it is all about the team as I would happily play every game and not score as long as we won”.
Coulter and Davin Flynn are key figures and Coulter has the height of respect for the Tipperary man.
“When he came up here first we did not know what to expect but he is just a joy to play with and I am sure he is a nightmare to mark.
“But we are just happy with our performance today and we still have a lot of things to do.”
When asked about the six-day turnaround for Armagh after their Ulster final defeat to Antrim – while Donegal had conceded their Ulster SHC relegation play-off against Down – Coulter said:
“I don’t know, I am not in the Armagh camp any more and I can’t speak for them but there are teams all over the country with five- and six-day turnarounds and they can still do it.
“But to be fair there is a lot of talk about burnout and you do need a rest.
“Rest is good but you don’t want to be missing games against good opposition either.
“Last weekend we had a training session in Dunfanaghy and all we had was 14 lads training.
“A lot of boys were carrying injuries and a lot of boys could not get off work for the weekend, so it was tough.
“We wanted to come here at full tilt and Armagh know well what we are about. But we know that Armagh are not out of the hunt yet.
“They have been in the last two Nicky Rackard Cup finals on merit and they are still probably the strongest team in the competition so we will not get carried away.”
