He would have been entitled to feel smug or wag a finger in the general direction of his detractors after a torrid 18 months, but Eamonn Burns instead used his winning platform to heap praise on his unfancied Down team after they pulled off the county’s first Ulster championship win over Armagh in 25 years.

The hard work was completed in the week prior to this match. Irrespective of how the game went, Armagh were looking for a win-win.

Armagh continued the impression that they are moving in the right direction under Kieran McGeeney’s stewardship, overcoming a slow start and the first-half sending off of centre-back, Finnian Moriarty to bag the Allianz Football League Division 3 crown.

Allianz FL Division 3 Round 2: Wexford 1-8 Armagh 2-13: Armagh opened nervously, falling four points adrift inside the opening 15 minutes, but still beat Wexford with eight points to spare in this Division 3 NFL game at Wexford Park.

Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney has taken GAA commentators, including Joe Brolly, to task about their "lies" concerning the extent of his panel’s training schedule, writes John Fogarty.

Imagine Brian Mullins without aggression and physicality? He’d be more suited to playing for Cork today than Dublin in the ‘70s.

Armagh 0-18 Meath 0-13

Armagh stunned Tyrone on their own Healy Park patch to score a massive derby win that takes them through to the third round of the All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers.

Armagh 0-14 Monaghan 0-14

Super-cool substitute Rory Grugan rescued Armagh with a free deep into stoppage time, earning a replay for his side and another chance to shock Ulster champions Monaghan.

Tyrone 5-16 Armagh 0-07

Wexford manager Liam Dunne has left dual star Lee Chin out of his side for Saturday’s All-Ireland SHC qualifier Phase 3 clash with Clare in Thurles on Saturday (5pm).

Armagh manager Paul Grimley is confident that the team that throttled Wicklow can get the required result against Leitrim in Saturday's All-Ireland SFC second round qualifier in Carrick-on-Shannon (throw-in 5pm).

Cavan will have two Championship debutants in their team when they host Armagh in Sunday's Ulster SFC preliminary round tie at Kingspan Breffni Park (throw-in 2pm).

Westmeath 0-17 Armagh 0-16, Mullingar

Armagh manager Paul Grimley has selected a new-look team for Saturday's Allianz Football League Division 2 opener against Laois at O'Moore Park (throw-in 7pm).

Influential defender Aaron Kernan is expected to play no part in Armagh's All-Ireland SFC first round qualifier against Roscommon on Sunday.

There are three Championship newcomers in the Armagh team to face Tyrone in Sunday's Ulster SFC quarter-final at the Athletic Grounds (throw-in 4pm).

For a team accused of having a soft centre, a six-point win over Armagh in the Athletic Grounds has to go down as a good night.

Armagh 0-11 Mayo 1-14

Conor Counihan expressed himself happy enough to be making the long journey home with a point in the bag and, while they could have left with nothing, they really should have departed with two.

WHAT follows is the net result of an extraordinary interview, one given by a player who answers every question put to him with his eyes closed.

Declan McKenna will make his first Championship start for Armagh in tomorrow's All-Ireland SFC second round replay against Wicklow.

WICKLOW might become the first county Mick O’Dwyer will depart without winning championship silverware but the ethos and style of football that the Kerry legend has promoted for over half a century is clearly embedded in the Garden County.

Armagh 0-19 Wicklow 2-13

WINNING a provincial semi-final is no place to declare a famine is over but a millstone was lifted from the neck of Derry football yesterday.

Derry 3-14 Armagh 1-11

In selecting his team to face Derry in Sunday's Ulster SFC semi-final, Armagh manager Paddy O'Rourke has kept faith with the side that beat Down last time out.

Armagh 1-15 Down 1-10

NEWRY’S divide is more pronounced this week but it’s all been good-natured.

Former Mayo player Billy Joe Padden will make his Ulster Championship debut in tomorrow night's quarter-final clash with Down at the Morgan Athletic Grounds (throw-in 7.30pm).

AN early goal and a strong finish proved decisive for Armagh as they capped their first ever visit to McHale Park, Castlebar with a crucial victory after a frantic Allianz National League tussle.

Mayo 1-10 Armagh 2-10

Down 0-12 Armagh 0-11

WITH Cork and Kerry to visit Croke Park this month, we are going to hear a lot about Dublin’s ‘spring series’ but it’s their away form that marks Pat Gilroy’s side out as one of football’s coming forces.

Armagh 1-11 Dublin 2-12

THIS was a very enjoyable and sporting game played between two evenly-matched teams, both in transition, on a perfect evening for football.

Fermanagh 0-7 Armagh 0-11, Enniskillen

JAMIE CLARKE celebrated his 21st birthday yesterday to put the finishing touches on a weekend where he was the toast of his local ground at Oliver Plunkett Park.

Armagh 2-14 Donegal 0-11