Just what Justin McNulty would've ordered.

Goalkeeper Killian Roche comes up to knock over a free-kick to cut the arrears to two-points.

A first Laois point in 20 minutes.

Laois haven't raised a flag since the 14th minute, and Simon Fingleton coughs up a great opportunity to bring his side back into the game. The full back kicked wide from 25 metres.

At the other end, Odhran Murdock kicks Down into a three-point lead with his second score of the day.

John Haughey
BBC Sport NI at Croke Park

Down are clearly the better side in this contest. Pat Havern looks on his game today and Ryan Johnston's score - after his two earlier misses - was a delightful effort as he turned inside his marker. But Laois' goal is keeping them in touch so the Mournemen still have much work to do.

Towering midfielder Odhran Murdock settles the Red & Black with a much needed point.

At the other end the Down defence are working tigerishly and win another turnover. That 12 so far.

Down continue to dominate but their finishing is letting down.

in the last few minutes both Pat Havern and Shealan Johnston see efforts go the wrong side of the posts.

Six wides Down have kicked in the opening 27 minutes.

Ryan Johnston kicks Down back in front before Liam Kerr spurns a great opportunity to open up a two-point lead.

Kerr's tame effort drops into the hands of Laois stopper Killian Roche.

The Down forward also had other options and could've worked a goal chance.

It's been an entertaining opening in Croke Park. Down made a bright start but that Laois goal was a real sucker punch to the Mourne men.

Laois are getting a lot of joy from their kicking game, while Down continue to move the ball through the hands.

The contrast in styles is making for an intriguing contest.

John Haughey
BBC Sport NI at Croke Park

Scrub that comment about Down doing everything right so far. That was a very sloppy goal to concede. It was a hopeful ball into the mixer but keeper John O'Hare's attempted punch was unconvincing and Laois wing-back Seamus Lacey picked his spot superbly to find the left-corner of the net.

Image source, Getty Images

Emlyn Mulligan
Former Leitrim forward on RTE Sport

It's a crucial goal for Laois - Seamus Lacey finished brilliantly into the bottom corner.

John Haughey
BBC Sport NI at Croke Park

Three Down shots on goal in the first five minutes and three points. Liam Kerr was given far too much space as he stroked over from 14 metres and Pat Haveron and Shealan Johnston then showed an ability to kick points from distance. Mark Barry has just got Laois on the board but it's a very encouraging beginning for the Mournemen.

Image source, Getty Images

Pat Havern and Shealan Johnston hand Down an early three-point lead.

Three-points from three attempts will no doubt please Conor Laverty, but worrying for Laois is that all three scores have come down the the right side of their defence.

Down go on the attack from the throw-in and Liam Kerr shows great trickery to cut in from the left and kick the Ulster side into an early lead.

Kerry's Brendan Griffin throws in the ball, and the 2024 Tailteann Cup final is underway.

John Haughey
BBC Sport NI at Croke Park

There aren't too many spectators in position yet but that won't in any way diminish the importance of this Tailteann Cup final at headquarters.

This will be Down's fifth opportunity in a one-off match to secure Sam Maguire football.

They have lost two successive Ulster semi-finals to Armagh when victory would have secured them top-tier status. Then there was last year's disappointing Tailteann Cup final defeat by Meath and a further chance was spurned when they lost to Westmeath in this year's Allianz Football League Division Three Final.

Another defeat for Down today is surely unthinkable and will inevitably lead to questions about how much progress they have actually made under Conor Laverty.

Laois conceded eight goals to Down in a freak 22-point defeat in last year’s Tailteann Cup semi-final in Croke Park, before Down lost to Meath in the final.

Justin McNulty, back in charge of Laois this year for a second time, insists his players are not carrying any mental baggage from that crushing defeat.

“Last year’s game is gone, obviously the team didn’t perform to a level that we would be proud of, but we hope we have improved since then,” he said.

“We know Down have improved - how much we have improved? We will see on Saturday.”

McNulty, a 2002 All-Ireland winner with Armagh, says it’s purely incidental to him that Laois’ opponents are his near-neighbours and traditional rivals, Down.

“I’ve huge respect for Down having gone to school in Down and played and against Down players for most of my career,” he said.

“Those are the boys who brought great swagger to Ulster football.

“I have huge admiration for Conor (Laverty) and Ciaran (Meenagh), they are two quality coaches, but we are looking forward to the opportunity to explore and fulfil our potential.”

The big prize on offer for whoever is Tailteann Cup champions on Saturday is a place in the 2025 All-Ireland series.

Asked about the significance of earning a place in the ‘Super 16s’ McNulty replied: “We are focused on a performance, all we can affect is our performance here on Saturday”.

Image source, Getty Images

Down clinched a 1-20 to 2-15 extra-time win over 14-man Sligo at Croke Park to reach the Tailteann Cup final for the second year in a row.

A red card for Sligo's Nathan Mullen after 60 minutes was a huge moment in the game, with his side leading 2-11 to 0-14.

Despite having scored goals in each half from Paddy O'Connor and Canice Mulligan, they never recovered from the red card as Down took over.

Ryan McEvoy's equaliser for Down in the eighth minute of stoppage time made it 0-18 to 2-12 and took the game to extra time.

Odhran Murdock's penalty in the second half of extra time was decisive.

Read more here

Image source, Inpho

Peter Canavan
Former Tyrone captain on RTE Sport

It's a contrast in styles but you would have to expect Down to come through in this one.

Down manager Conor Laverty believes that the guarantee of All-Ireland football is more important than silverware ahead of the Tailteann Cup final.

This afternoon's winners are guaranteed to play in the top tier in 2025.

"I almost think that's more important than the silverware," Laverty told BBC Sport NI.

"Going forward as a group of players, either Down or Laois, there is a massive prize at stake here. Both sets of players will be really gunning towards that."

Read more here

Image source, Inpho