Brendan "Benny" Coulter is anIrishGaelic footballmanager and player who plays for his local clubMayobridge and, previously, for theDown senior football team until his retirement in 2014; he also teaches kids about Gaelic in different schools around Northern Ireland.[1][2][3][4]
During his prime, Coulter was regarded as one of the best attackers in Gaelic football.[1] He isUlster's leading Championship goal scorer of all-time.
He won an Ulster Minor Championship Medal in 1999, and later that year won theAll-Ireland Minor Football Championship with Down he scored 1-02 in the All Ireland Final. Down managerPete McGrath selected Coulter to make his debut for the senior team that year, despite his youth.[5] He has since become one of Down's key players.[5] He has captained Down,[6] and has been described as the team's 'talisman'.[7]
Coulter was selected to representIreland in theInternational Rules Series five times, in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2010. He has also won 4Railway Cups he has also won U-12, U-14, U-16, Minor and Reserve League and Championship, and also won an All-Ireland Under-16 Football Championship with St Marks Warrenpoint.
Benny has won 8 county championship with his club Mayobridge and is one of the most iconic players to ever come from the Mourne county.
Coulter has admitted to being targeted bysledging while on the field of play.[8]Coulter supportsLiverpool F.C. Benny was player/manager ofMayobridge GAA in the 2017 and 2018 campaign alongside Francie Poland. He now managedLongstone GAA. One of his controversial goals was against Kildare as Kildare players thought it was a square ball denying them a place in the All - Ireland Final
Coulter was appointed Down minor football team manager ahead of the 2023 season.[9]
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Down Senior Football Captain 2004 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Down Senior Football Captain 2006 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Down Senior Football Captain 2011 | Succeeded by |