Kerr hits hat-trick as Down defeat Laois
By Paul McIntyreGAA
Laois had no answer to Down's power and pace as the Mournemen cruised into a final meeting with Meath.
As well as Kerr's treble, Danny Magill twice found the back of the Laois net while Pat Havern, Odhran Murdock and Rory Mason also raised green flags as Down went on a goalscoring spree.
It was a day to forget for Laois, but to their credit they refused to give up and they did claim two goals of their own through Kevin Swayne and an expertly-taken penalty from Mark Barry.
Down wasted no time in working the scoreboard as Kerr waltzed through the Laois defence to finish to the net in the opening minute.
Havern has been one of the players of the Tailteann Cup and he found the back of the net in the eighth minute.
A mark from Barry in the 13th minute opened Laois' account but after Shealan Johnston's effort came back off the post, Kerr was on hand to finish the rebound to the Laois net.
Only 16 minutes had elapsed when Danny Magill scored Down's fourth goal of the contest and already it was just a matter of how many Down were going to win by.
Rory Mason and Ceilum Doherty added to Down's tally as the Mournemen went in at the break with one foot in the final on a 4-10 to 0-4 scoreline.
Down's ruthless streak showed no signs of easing as Kerr completed his hat-trick with a close-range finish.
Under 20 star Murdock was on hand to claim Down's sixth goal of the afternoon as their attackers again found themselves in acres of space before Mason gave Killian Roche no chance in the Laois goal to slot home goal number seven.
Laois hit back with two goals of their own through Swayne and a Barry penalty, but in between those two strikes Magill claimed his second and Down's eighth goal to ensure his side a safe passage into next month's final.
Down: N Kane (0-1f), P McCarthy, P Laverty, A Doherty, M Rooney, C Doherty (0-2 1 Mark), S Johnston, D Guinness, O Murdock (1-1), L Kerr (3-2), R Mason (1-1F), D Magill (2-0), E Brannagan (0-3,) P Havern (1-3), R Johnston (0-1).
Replacements: R McEvoy for Laverty (HT), S Annett for Guinness (43), R Carr for Havern (47), D McAleenan for R Johnston (49), R O'Hare for S Johnston (54).
Blood sub: P Branagan (0-2) for C O'Doherty (43).
Laois: K Roche (0-1 45), S Greene, T Collins, R Pigott, P Kirwan, M Timmons, P O'Sullivan, K Lillis, D Larkin, C Murphy, P Kingston (0-1), J Finn, M Barry (1-6 1-0 Pen 4f 1 Mark), E O'Carroll (0-1), E Lowry (0-2 1f).
Replacements: A Mohan for Collins (HT), S O'Flynn for Kirwan (HT), K Swayne (1-0) for Finn (HT), D Kavanagh (0-1) for Timmons (37), N Corbet for Murphy (63).
By Mon 26th Jun
