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Down vs Laois LIVE score updates from 2024 Tailteann Cup Final 

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Down vs Laois LIVE score updates from 2024 Tailteann Cup Final 

Tailteann Cup final: Down 0-14 Laois 2-6

Down have secured Sam Maguire Cup football following a gritty two-point win over Laois in Saturday’s Tailteann Cup final at Croke Park.




The Mournemen were the better team for the majority of the game, but goals in either half, including a stunning late strike from Mark Barry, kept the O’Moore County in contention.

Laois were hit for four goals inside the opening 16 minutes of last season’s semi-final clash between the teams and, while they didn’t concede a goal in the first half, they were three points down inside the first four minutes.

Liam Kerr, Pat Havern and Shealan Johnston were on target early on before Mary Barry settled the Laois nerves with a well-worked score.

Laois hit their first goal somewhat against the run of play as James Kelly’s ball over the top put Brian Byrne through on goal. Down goalkeeper John O’Hare came off his line to fist the ball away from Byrne, but his clearance fell to Seamus Lacey who tucked the ball into the left-hand corner of the net.

Down rallied and outscored Laois 0-5 to 0-2 for the remainder of the half with Odhran Murdock landing two classy points from play as the Mournemen led 0-8 to 1-3 at the break.

Justin McNulty’s half-time teamtalk appeared to work the oracle as Laois hit three unanswered points on the restart via Conor Heffernan, Barry (free) and Paul Kingston (free).

Conor Laverty rolled the nice and introduced Caolan Mooney and Danny Magill early in the second half and the pair had a great impact with Magill kicking two points within minutes of being introduced. He also had a hand in Murdock’s third point as Down regained the advantage.

Further scores from Mooney, Pat Haverrn and Peter Fegan put Down into a five-point lead late on and the result seemed beyond doubt.

However, there was a final twist as Laois plundered their second goal. James Kelly’s long-ball in was punched clear once more and Barry collected the ball 25 metres from goal and rifled the ball into the top corner of the net to set up a grandstand finish.

Barry missed a chance to draw within one moments later and Laois couldn’t fashion another goal chance and Down held on to claim the Tailteann Cup and, with it, a place in the All-Ireland series next summer.


Down scorers: Odhran Murdock 0-3, Pat Havern 0-3 (0-1f), Danny Magill 0-2, Peter Fegan 0-1, Shealan Johnston 0-1, Jonny Flynn 0-1, Ryan Johston 0-1, Liam Kerr 0-1, Caolan Mooney 0-1.

Laois scorers: Mark Barry 1-2 (0-1f), Seamus Lacey 1-0, Killian Roche 0-1 (0-1f), Conor Heffernan 0-1, Evan O’Carroll 0-1, Paul Kingston 0-1 (0-1f).

Here’s a recap of how the Tailteann Cup unfolded. . .


Pierce Laverty lifts the Tailteann Cup

Down midfielder Odhran Murdock is named RTE Man-of-the-Match

Mark Barry stunner set up a thrilling finish

Full-time: Down 0-14 Laois 2-6

Down have won the Tailteann Cup after a hard-earned two-point victory against Laois. The Mournemen looked to be cruising before Mark Barry scored a stuning late goal for the O’Moore County. However, it is Down who will be in the Sam Maguire Cup next season!

Wide

Mark Barry fires wide from 30 metres and the gap remains at two points in stoppage-time. . .

Goal! Down 0-14 Laois 2-6

Wow! Mark Barry rifles a shot from 25 metres into the Down net after James Kelly’s ball in is fisted out. Game on!

Down 0-14 Laois 1-6

Peter Fegan takes a pass from Pierce Laverty and fires over the bar and that should be enough to seal the Tailteann Cup for Down. . .

Down 0-13 Laois 1-6

Niall Dunne is booked for a foul on Liam Kerr and Pat Havern coverts from 35 metres out and Down’s lead is four with four minutes of normal time remaining

Down 0-12 Laois 1-6

Caolan Mooney, another Down sub, has fired over from play. After HawkEye double-checks, the score is given and the Mournemen lead by three with 10 minutes remaining

Goal chance!

Simon Fingleton is fouled by James Guinness with the Down forward booked for his troubles. Killian Roche’s effort from 55 minutes drops in and Mark Barry’s attempt at goal is wide!

Down 0-11 Laois 1-6

Daniel Guinness and Danny Magill combine to set up Odhran Murdock for his third point of the game

Down 0-10 Laois 1-6

That’s what you call an impact sub as Danny Magill lands his second point of the game as Down move into the lead once more with 50 minutes played

Down 0-9 Laois 1-6

Danny Magill is only on the pitch a matter of seconds, but he marks his introduction with a fine point from play. The sides are level once more after 47 minutes

Down 0-8 Laois 1-6

Eoin Lowry is fouled by Ryan McEvoy and Paul Kingston converts to give Laois the lead

Down 0-8 Laois 1-5

Moments after Killian Roche missed a free, Laois draw level as Mark Barry converts a free from 30 metres

Down 0-8 Laois 1-4

Laois close to within one on the restart with midfielder Conor Heffernan landing a fine point

We’re back underway!

The second half begins and there are no changes on either team at half-time

First half scorers

Down: Pat Havern 0-2, Odhran Murdock 0-2, Shealan Johnson 0-1, Jonny Flynn 0-1, Liam Kerr 0-1, Ryan Johnston 0-1.

Laois: Seamus Lacey 1-0, Mark Barry 0-1, Evan O’Carroll 0-1, Killian Roche 0-1 (0-1f).

Laois find the net after strong Down start

Half-time: Down 0-8 Laois 1-3

Down lead by two points at half-time after a keenly-contested first half!

Down 0-8 Laois 1-3

Niall Dunne is fouled and Laois goalkeeper Killian Roche converts on the cusp of half-time.

Down 0-8 Laois 1-2

That’s another fine efffort from Murdock as the Down midfielder fires over with the left boot from the edge of the D and Down lead by three at the half-hour mark

Down 0-7 Laois 1-2

Laois are dropping everyone back behind the ball and Down have missed a few chances in the last few minutes, but that is a remarkable piece of brilliance from Odhran Murdock who cuts past his man with a dummy solo and fires over the bar

Down 0-6 Laois 1-2

Ryan Johnston cuts along the Cusack Stand side and fires over a stunning point from play as Down retake the lead with 20 minutes played

Down 0-5 Laois 1-2

Evan O’Carroll strips the ball from Pierce Laverty and fires over a point to nudge Laois ahead, but Down reply with a point from Pat Havern

Down 0-4 Laois 1-1

James Guinness plays Jonny Flynn through on goal, but the Down midfielder opts to take his point and the sides are level after 13 minutes

Goal! Down 0-3 Laois 1-1

Laois have plunder the game’s first goal! James Kelly’s ball over the top played Brian Byrne through on goal. Down goalkeeper John O’Hare fisted clearance only went as far as Seamus Lacey who tucked the ball into the left-hand corner!

Down 0-3 Laois 0-1

Laois get off the mark after seven minutes as Brian Byrne sets up Mark Barry for a well-worked score

Down 0-3 Laois 0-0

Shealan Johnston adds another for Down and this is exactly the start Laois didn’t need or want! They are three down after five minutes

Down 0-2 Laois 0-0

Pat Havern lands a classy point from play from the edge of the D and Down have made a strong start after four minutes

Down 0-1 Laois 0-0

Liam Kerr scored 3-2 against Laois last season and he has the game’s opening score after one minute

We’re under way at Croke Park!

Referee Brendan Griffin (Kerry) gets the game under way. Laois will play into the Hill 16 end in the first half and they’ll have a bit of a wind advantage

Betting

  • Down 1/5

  • Draw 11/1

  • Laois 4/1

Late changes

Down have made two changes with Paddy McCarthy and John McGovern drafted in for Danny Magill and Conor McCrickard.

Laois make one switch with Ben Dempsey starting in place of Eoin Buggie

Key battle: Evan O’Carroll (Laois) vs Pierce Laverty (Down)

Evan O’Carroll was marked by Pierce Laverty during last season’s Tailteann Cup semi-final and the Down captain could end up tracking his Laois counterpart this afternoon(Image: ©INPHO/Evan Treacy)

The Down and Laois captains squared up to each other from the off in last year’s semi-final and there’s every reason to think Pierce Laverty will be marking Evan O’Carroll again this afternoon.

Ceilum Doherty, Down’s other primary man-marker, isn’t listed to start, although Conor Laverty tends to make late changes.

Laverty is comfortable in a man-marking role or playing as a sweeper and O’Carroll was held to just two points from play in the semi-final against Antrim by Kavan Keenan.

Paths to the final

Down

Ulster SFC quarter final

Down 0-13 Antrim 0-9

Ulster SFC semi-final

Armagh 0-13 Down 2-6

Tailteann Cup Round One

Down 1-20 Limerick 1-6

Tailteann Cup Round Two

London 0-10 Down 1-24

Tailteann Cup Round Three

Down 2-22 Offaly 3-13

Tailteann Cup quarter-final

Down 1-18 Wicklow 0-12

Tailteann Cup semi-final

Down 1-20 Sligo 2-15 AET

Laois

Leinster SFC quarter-final

Laois 1-8 Offaly 2-13

Tailteann Cup Round One

Laois 2-17 Carlow 2-17

Tailteann Cup Round Two

Wicklow 0-10 Laois 0-11

Tailteann Cup Round Three

Fermanagh 3-11 Laois 2-13

Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-final

Laois 1-13 New York 1-9

Tailteann Cup semi-final

Laois 3-12 Antrim 1-13

2023 semi-final recap

Liam Kerr scored 3-2 for Down in last season’s semi-final win over Laois (Image: ©INPHO/Evan Treacy)

Tailteann Cup semi-final: Down 8-16 Laois 2-12

Down hit eight goals in a stunning 22-point rout of Laois in the Tailteann Cup semi-final.

In truth, the game was all but over after 17 minutes when the Mournemen hit their fourth goal in a devastating early salvo that floored Billy Sheehan’s men.

As the thunder rumbled over Croke Park, Down flew out of the traps with goals from Liam Kerr, Pat Havern and Danny Magill.

When Kerr struck for his second and Down’s fourth major, Conor Laverty’s side led 4-2 to 0-1.

Laois didn’t register a point from play until Evan O’Carroll’s effort on 31 minutes as Down, although Niall Kane was forced to make a smart save to deny Paul Kingston at the end of the first half.

Kerr completed his hat-trick on the restart before Odhran Murdock and Rory Mason got in on the act.

When Laois managed to salvage a goal via substitute Kevin Swayne, Down simply replied in kind at the other end with Magill firing past Killian Roche.

Mark Barry, who hit 1-6, converted a penalty after Kingston was fouled by Anthony Doherty.

Down probably should have registered another few goals with Eugene Branagan blasting over, rather than under, the crossbar when scoring his third point.

Yet, it would be nit-picking of the extreme to criticise Down following a remarkable performance and they’ll return to Croke Park to face Meath on Saturday, July 15 after the Royals claimed a two-point win over Antrim in the first semi-final earlier in the day.

Down scorers: Liam Kerr 3-2, Danny Magill 2-0, Pat Havern 1-3, Rory Mason 1-1 (0-1f), Odhran Murdock 1-1, Eugene Branagan 0-3, Patrick Branagan 0-2, Ceilum Doherty 0-2 (0-1m) Niall Kane 0-1 (0-1f), Ryan Johnston 0-1.

Laois scorers: Mark Barry 1-6 (1-0 pen, 0-4fs, 0-1m), Kevin Swayne 1-0, Eoin Lowry 0-2, Paul Kingston 0-1, Dylan Kavanagh 0-1, Evan O’Carroll 0-1, Killian Roche 0-1 (0-1 45).

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