Down survive late Laois rally to win Tailteann Cup

Down will compete in the All-Ireland SFC in 2025 after holding firm in a nerve-jangling Croke Park finale to secure the Tailteann Cup title at the second attempt.

Beaten in last year’s final by Meath, Conor Laverty’s side finally got over the line but endured a worrying final few minutes as Laois rallied dramatically.

Down had come from a point down with 25 minutes or so to go to lead by five early in stoppage time.

The form of Man of the Match Odhran Murdock and the introduction of Danny Magill were both central to the Ulster side’s strong final quarter display.

But a terrific Mark Barry goal for Laois deep into stoppage time turned the game on its head, leaving just two points in it, and Justin McNulty’s side came close late on to rescuing a result.

Barry subsequently kicked a poor wide while Down cleared a ball off their goalline right at the death as the Mourne escaped with an important win.

Aside from booking their place in next year’s Sam Maguire Cup competition, they have also answered questions about their big game character following defeats to Meath and Westmeath in Croke Park finals across 2023 and 2024.

Laois lost no face in defeat having lost to the same opposition by 22 points last year, conceding 8-16.

Down hit Laois hard and early in that semi-final encounter and hinted at doing something similar again with three points in the first four minutes.

Liam Kerr, Pat Havern and Shealan Johnston grabbed those scores and all three players came to the party with stories to tell.

Kerr, who blasted 3-02 against Laois last year, was recalled to the team after scoring 0-03 from the bench against Sligo while Havern started at midfield again despite wearing number 14. As for Johnston, the rumour beforehand was that he was to be replaced by Ryan Magill but the Kilcoo man started as planned.

Down made three changes from the extra-time semi-final win over Sligo; bringing back in Kerr along with Jonny Flynn and James Guinness.

Laois were unchanged and, after that tricky start, came strongly into the game, reeling off 1-02 between the seventh and 15th minutes.

Seamus Lacey grabbed the crucial 11th minute goal that put the Division 4 champions ahead briefly, 1-01 to 0-03.

Lacey capitalised after Down goalkeeper John O’Hare, under pressure from Brian Byrne, punched the ball straight to him.

The scores dried up on Laois after Evan O’Carroll’s 15th minute point. They scored just one more point in the half and didn’t manage one from play until Conor Heffernan struck from long range in the 38th minute.

Down, meanwhile, had tonnes of possession and while they fired four of the game’s next five points to lead 0-08 to 1-03 at half-time, six first-half wides undermined them.

Laois goalkeeper Killian Roche, perhaps the best ‘keeper in the competition this season, got all 14 of his first-half kick-outs away successfully.

But the problem for Laois was they kept being turned over high up the pitch, allowing Down to break away with the ball. Murdock hit two excellent points for Down, one off either foot, but all those wides and a Kerr score attempt after another turnover that dropped short proved frustrating.

The sides shared six points equally in the third quarter, Laois initially scoring three in a row to take the lead before Down responded in kind.

Danny Magill’s 44th minute introduction was central to Down’s resurgence. A goal-king for Down last year, Magill kicked back-to-back points this time before setting up Murdock for his third, 0-11 to 1-06.

It remained that way until substitute Caolan Mooney put Down three clear on the hour.

Down stretched to gap to five after reeling off six points in a row in all between the 46th and 69th minutes.

Laois looked a busted flush but dramatically grabbed a goal back through Barry in stoppage time to make it a really interesting final few minutes.

Down: John O’Hare; Peter Fegan (0-01), Ryan McEvoy, Pierce Laverty; Miceal Rooney, Daniel Guinness, Shealan Johnston (0-01); Odhran Murdock (0-03), Pat Havern (0-03, 0-01f); Paddy McCarthy, Jonny Flynn (0-01), Liam Kerr (0-01); James Guinness, Ryan Johnston (0-01), John McGovern.

Subs: Caolan Mooney (0-01) for McGovern 39, Danny Magill (0-02) for Rooney 44, Ryan Magill for James Guinness 57, Conor McCrickard for Ryan Johnston 69, Finn McElroy for Kerr 73.

Laois: Killian Roche (0-01, 0-01f); James Kelly, Simon Fingleton, Mark Timmons; Seamus Lacey (1-00), Brian Byrne, Ben Dempsey; Damon Larkin, Conor Heffernan (0-01); Niall Dunne, Eoin Lowry, Kevin Swayne; Mark Barry (1-02, 0-01f), Evan O’Carroll (0-01), Paul Kingston (0-01, 0-01f).

Subs: Rioghan Murphy for Lowry 57, Shaun Fitzpatrick for Kingston 66, Kieran Lillis for Larkin 69, Ciaran Burke for Dunne 69, Eoin Buggie for Kelly 71.

Referee: Brendan Griffin (Kerry).