Benny Coulter: All-Ireland race will be most open in a decade

Down legend Benny Coulter believes that we could be set for the most open All-Ireland Championship in a decade.

The Mayobridge man, an All-Star in 2010, retired from the inter-county scene after the 2014 campaign and the eight seasons since have seen Dublin lift the Sam Maguire six times while Tyrone and Kerry have each been crowned All-Ireland champions once.

However Coulter, manager of the Down minors and Mourne club Rostrevor, feels that the 2023 season is starting to feel like it could produce something special.

The fact that the two favourites for the All-Ireland, Kerry and Dublin, suffered league defeats at the weekend only strengthens that assertion.

"I'm looking at the likes of Armagh, Derry and teams like that. I don’t think Kerry are as far ahead as people think.

"David Clifford is obviously an outstanding player, but you take Clifford out, teams like Armagh and Derry will feel that they are as good as them.

"This season is going to be an open race; you don’t have to wait another two or three years. We’re going to have Galway and Dublin there too.

"This new group stage format, it’s new and all the teams will be going into the unknown."

Coulter’s own county Down face a wait to see if they’ll even be involved in the All-Ireland series this year.

With Westmeath guaranteed one of the 16 Sam Maguire spots and another set to go west to the provincial finalist from the Sligo, Leitrim and New York bracket, promotion from Division 3 would still result in Tailteann Cup football.

Their sole route lies in reaching the Ulster final with Donegal, Armagh, Cavan and Antrim on their side of the draw.

Regardless of where they end up, Coulter said he has been impressed with how the team have taken to life under new manager Conor Laverty