Written by Laois PR Team
Tailteann Cup Final: Laois vs Down at 3pm on Saturday July 13th in Croke Park
Tickets can be purchased both online and in person using the following options below:
Tickets can be purchased online here: https://www.ticketmaster.ie/gaa-sfc-semifinal-armagh-v-kerry-dublin-13-07-2024/event/180060E1E2A67F76
Tickets can be purchased in person via selected participating SuperValu stores:
SuperValu Stradbally
Breslin’s SuperValu Rathdowney
McConville’s SuperValu Mountmellick
McLoughlin’s SuperValu Portarlington
Mulhall’s SuperValu Portlaoise
SuperValu Abbeyleix
SuperValu Parkside Portlaoise
Watch live on TV: on channel RTE 2 or stream via RTE Player
Follow live match scores and updates on our official CLG Laois Twitter account: @CLGLaois
Radio: The match will be broadcast live on Midlands Radio 103.
Manager Justin McNulty has named the following side to face Down:
Changes from the Antrim game:
In defence, Eoin Buggie is starting and Ben Dempsey is named on the bench.
Mikie Dempsey is absent with a cruciate injury. Fionn Holland takes his place on the bench.
Aaron Cooney is named as the substitute goalkeeper in place of Conor Brown.
The Laois team lines out as follows:
Permutations: The winner of Laois vs Down will lift the Tailteann Cup trophy and also be awarded a place in the 2025 All Ireland Senior Football Championship series.
Recent Laois Stats:
Semi Final vs Antrim Stats:
James Kelly (who scored 2 pts from play vs Antrim) got his first scores for Laois Senior footballers in any competition and James Kelly is the first St. Joseph’s player since 2006 (Noel Garvan draw vs Mayo) to get Laois’ last score in a championship match.
Kevin Swayne’s goal was the second time this year that Laois have taken the lead twice in a championship match because of goals scored.
Brian Byrne is the first non-forward (as a starter) to score two goals in a championship match for Laois footballers. Brian Byrne’s two goals scored – made him the first Laois player to do so in Croke Park in the championship since Leo Turley against Kildare in 1996.
It’s the first time we have scored 3+ goals in Croke Park in a championship match since 1996 (Kildare). It was also Laois’ biggest championship score in Croke Park since scoring 0-21 against Kildare in 2005.
The semi final win over Antrim was Laois’ 140th football championship win and the 10th against an Ulster team.
Since 1923, Laois have only won six cship games where our first second-half score came so late:
1940 v Carlow
1940 v Offaly
1950 v Westmeath
1976 v Carlow
2018 v Carlow
2024 v Antrim
Laois senior footballers have only won five cship matches by 5pts or under, where the aggregate score was 37+ points.
1929 Laois 5-05 Dublin 3-10
2014 Laois 1-19 Fermanagh 2-15
2017 Laois 2-16 Wicklow 3-10
2023 Laois 2-17 Wexford 2-13
2024 Laois 3-12 Antrim 1-13
Semi Final Recap: Laois vs Antrim on June 23rd in Croke Park
Laois: 3-12
Antrim: 1-13
Laois scorers: Brian Byrne 2-0, Mark Barry 0-4 (1 free), Kevin Swayne 1-0, Evan O’Carroll 0-2, James Kelly 0-2, Niall Dunne 0-2 (1 mark), Killian Roche 0-1, Paul Kingston 0-1.
Standout players:
In defence, Simon Fingleton was outstanding all game. He made strong tackles to win back possession, resulting in turnovers and excellently man marked Antrim’s Paddy Mc Bride, to prevent Antrim attacking opportunities. He was also very effective running forward and won crucial frees for Laois on many occasions.
In midfield, Damon Larkin provided a brilliant link between the Laois defence and attack. He showed an abundance of strength to successfully win many kickouts in midfield from goalkeeper Killian Roche and moved the ball very well going forward whilst also providing accurate kick passes into the Laois forward line, which opened up the Antrim defence and resulted in Laois scores.
In attack, the in form Mark Barry was the standout forward for Laois, 3 weeks ago in Croke Park. His performance consisted of scoring 3 points from play, 1 free and his overall attacking effort was huge. Barry was deservedly awarded with RTE’s Man Of The Match afterwards.
The significant impact from the Laois bench: Laois trailed by 3 pts with 25 minutes left and produced a strong comeback to get the win in the end. Courtesy of the hard work rate and injection of pace, provided from the lively performances of 2nd half substitutes: Eoin Buggie and Rioghan Murphy. Their difference helped turned the game around at a vital period and helped Laois see out the game for a win.
Saturday will be Laois’s first appearance in a Tailteann Cup Final and Down’s second appearance.
It is the 3rd edition of the Tailteann Cup Finals.
Down reached last years final where they were defeated by Meath. In the 2024 season, Down gained promotion to Division 2 and produced an excellent performance vs Armagh in the Ulster semi final this year, defeated by just the 1 pt in the end.
Down’s previous 2024 Tailteann Cup results:
Round 1:
Down: 1-20
Limerick: 1-6
Round 2:
London: 0-10
Down: 1-24
Round 3:
Down: 2-22
Offaly: 3-13
Quarter Final:
Down: 1-18
Wicklow: 0-12
Semi Final (AET)
Down: 1-20
Sligo: 2-15
Standout players: Forward Pat Havern has been in great form in attack with a total score of 22 points, with a number of these from play scored from distance. Full back Ryan McEvoy has been consistently solid in defence. A player that has made a big impact from the bench this campaign on several occasions is the lively Liam Kerr.
Previous meeting of Laois vs Down: Tailteann Cup Final 2023 on June 25th in Croke Park
Laois: 2-12
Down: 8-16
