Down vs Laois LIVE score updates from 2024 Tailteann Cup Final 

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

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. . .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Down 1/5

• Draw 11/1

• Laois 4/1

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.

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

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).