Four goals in each half comfortably sealed Down's passage to the Tailteann Cup final against a disappointing Laois side in Croke Park.

Wing-forward Liam Kerr bagged a hat-trick in the rout as Down adapted spectacularly to their surroundings in another signal of progress under Conor Laverty's stewardship.

The first four goals came in the opening 17 minutes and Billy Sheehan’s side were visibly stunned with that early onslaught.

Down gripped the game and duly enjoyed the cat-and-mouse affair from that point onwards. Tactically astute, and full of confidence, Down’s lines of running sharpened with every passing minute.

It only took Kerr 51 seconds to blaze the trail for Laverty’s men. And with that punishing strike, Laois were never able to get a foothold in the game.

Mourne captain Pat Havern quickly added a neat point and well-taken goal. A low drive past Killian Roche typified Down’s no nonsense approach.

As the clouds darkened and thunder cracked, Kerr fortuitously added a second. Shealan Johnston turned as soon as he took his wayward effort for a point. The off-target shot hit the post and Kerr reacted quickest, kept his composure and slotted it home.

Three minutes later Danny Magill all but wrapped the tie up. With the lopsided scoreline at 4-02 to 0-01, there would be no way back for the Leinster men.

A Mark Barry point broke the momentum somewhat with a mark but between bad execution and sloppy play Laois could not sustain any pressure to make inroads into the semi-final.

Paul Kingston was denied a glorious goal chance just before the half-time whistle but Down netminder Niall Kane was in no mood to hand Laois a lifeline as it remained an ominous 4-10 to 0-04 at the interval.

The second-half response came from Kerr. The Mourne winger wrapped up his hat-trick minutes after the restart.

Barry (two) and Eoin Lowry then responded for Laois with a sustained line of attack but Down were merciless.

Odhrán Murdock apologetically drilled home the sixth, Rory Mason got in on the act with a neat finish but just when substitute Kevin Swayne found the net for Laois, Danny Magill scorched home his second in the very next play. That summed up the humour of both sides.

Barry did score a consolation penalty but Down were already planning a final date with Meath on 15 July.

Down: Niall Kane (0-01 ’45); Patrick McCarthy, Pierce Laverty, Anthony Doherty; Danny Magill (2-00), Míceal Rooney, Ceilum Doherty (0-02, 1m); Daniel Guinness, Pat Havern (1-03); Liam Kerr (3-02), Ryan Johnston (0-01), Eugene Branagan (0-03); Rory Mason (1-01, 1f); Odhrán Murdock (1-01), Shealan Johnston.

Subs: Ryan McEvoy for Laverty (ht), Shane Annett for Guinness (43), Patrick Branagan (0-02) for C Doherty (43), Ross Carr for Havern (47), Donach McAleenan for R Johnston (49), Ruairí O’Hare for S Johnston (54).

Laois: Killian Roche (0-01 ’45); Trevor Collins, Robert Pigott, Seán Greene; Pádraig Kirwan, Mark Timmons, Patrick O’Sullivan; Kieran Lillis, Damon Larkin; James Finn, Paul Kingston (0-01), Mark Barry (1-06, 1-00pen, 4f, 1m); Evan O’Carroll (0-01); Eoin Lowry (0-02, 1m), Colm Murphy.

Subs: Seán O’Flynn for Kirwan (ht), Kevin Swayne (1-00) for Finn (ht), Alex Mohan for Collins (ht), Dylan Kavanagh (0-01) for Timmons (39), Niall Corbet for Murphy (63).

Referee: Barry Tiernan (Dublin).