Tailteann Cup Semi-Final

Down 8-16 Laois 2-12

By Dan Bannon at Croke Park

Laois were in no match for Down in all sectors as Conor Laverty’s side reached the Tailteann Cup final in three weeks time.

Goal taking and making has been a well known philosophy of Laverty’s coaching and in the wide open spaces of Croke Park the Ulster side netted eight.

Each one well crafted and beautifully taken, Billy Sheehan’s team just happened to be in front of a side in the mood from the off.

That intent was seen in the opening minute when hat-trick hero Liam Kerr scorched through off the shoulder of his Burren clubmate Odhrán Murdock to give Down the perfect start after 51 seconds.

With Laois stunned, Down did not relent, captain Pat Havern quickly added 1-1 before Laois finally registered their opening score in the 13th minute from top scorer on the day Mark Barry.

Within a matter of minutes though, Down all but sealed their final berth. Kerr added a second when he reacted quickest to Shealan Johnston’s rebounded shot for a point that hit the woodwork.

Danny Magill then ran through for his rampant side's fourth goal after 17 minutes of action.

There would be no coming back from that treacherous start from Billy Sheehan’s side but Eoin Lowry and Evan O’Carroll found the range before half time to make it 4-10 to 0-4 at the break.

Liam Kerr wasted no time in securing his hat-trick with the opening score of the second half. This spurred Laois into a response where they scored back to back points for the first time in the game from Lowry and Barry.

With Laois pushing up on their opponents kick out’s Down went over the top and Odhrán Murdock and Rory Mason punished with the sixth and seventh Mourne goal.

Respectability on the scoreline came soon after with Kevin Swayne finding the net for the midlanders off the bench, but Magill quickly cancelled that out with his second.

Mark Barry did slot home a penalty for Laois, but the Mourne men set up a repeat of the 1991 All-Ireland final between themselves and Meath.

Scorers for Down: Liam Kerr 3-2, Danny Magill 2-0, Pat Havern 1-3, Rory Mason (f) and Odhrán Murdock 1-1 each, Eugene Branagan 0-3, Ceilum Doherty (1m) and Patrick Branagan 0-2 each, Niall Kane (’45) and Ryan Johston 0-1 each

Scorers for Laois: Mark Barry 1-6 (1-0pen, 4f, 1m), Kevin Swayne 1-0, Eoin Lowry 0-2 (1m), Paul Kingston, Killian Roche (’45) Dylan Kavanagh and Evan O’Carroll 0-1 each

DOWN: Niall Kane; Patrick McCarthy, Pierce Laverty, Anthony Doherty; Danny Magill, Míceal Rooney, Ceilum Doherty; Daniel Guinness, Pat Havern; Liam Kerr, Ryan Johnston, Eugene Branagan; Rory Mason; Odhrán Murdock, Shealan Johnston.

Subs: Ryan McEvoy for Laverty (HT), Shane Annett for Guinness (43), Patrick Branagan for C Doherty (HIA 43), Ross Carr for Havern (47), Donach McAleenan for R Johnston (49), Ruairí O’Hare for S Johnston (54).

Laois: Killian Roche; Trevor Collins, Robert Pigott, Seán Greene; Pádraig Kirwan, Mark Timmons, Patrick O’Sullivan; Kieran Lillis, Damon Larkin; James Finn, Paul Kingston, Mark Barry; Evan O’Carroll; Eoin Lowry, Colm Murphy.

Subs: Seán O’Flynn for Kirwan (HT), Kevin Swayne for Finn (HT), Alex Mohan for Collins (HT), Dylan Kavanagh for Timmons (39), Niall Corbet for Murphy (63).

Referee: Barry Tiernan (Dublin).