Underdogs Laois only just denied
Mick O'Dwyer's talented side distinguished itself once more, but never quite managed to reach the level of the Leinster final performance.
Instead, it was Armagh who displayed the greater capacity to win when the game was finely balanced nearing the three-quarters stage. And, appropriately in view of his outstanding play in the second half, a 50th-minute score from midfielder Philip Loughran preceded a period of dominance which was to ultimately prove decisive.
Within an eight-minute period, the holders were to open up a four-point gap, the biggest in the game up to that point. And while they were to come under continuing pressure in the closing stages, they had by then effectively survived their biggest test of character since they faced up to Dublin in the third round of the qualifier competition.
Changes in the Laois attack, which included replacing two substitutes, failed to bring about an improvement and provide Brian McDonald in particular with the type of support which was needed to change the course of the game. But neither O'Dwyer nor his players could really complain about the result.
To their credit, Laois forced the pace from the beginning and more than acquitted themselves for most of the half. Rather surprisingly, Armagh elected to use Tony McEntee (named at left corner-forward) as a sweeper, as they had done to great effect in the second half of the Dublin game. This time, it achieved virtually nothing until later on, when he made some good catches in front of goal.
More significantly, with an extra man the Laois backs were to exert a strong control, highlighted in the way the threat from Steven McDonnell in particular was severely limited.
In the event, Diarmaid Marsden and Oisin McConville were the ones who did most to boost the champions' attack, which was further limited at times by the fact that their half-backs were under a lot of pressure and the midfielders were giving second-best to Padraig Clancy and Noel Garvan.
While the Laois captain Ian Fitzgerald had a half-chance of a goal as early as the third minute, the vigilance of keeper Fergal Byron was to deny both Marsden and McDonnell from clear chances in the 5th and 16th minutes.
By this stage, Armagh still had not settled, and while Laois were still forcing the pace with McDonald looking sharp in the right corner and Russ Munnelly getting in a lot of hard work on the wing outside him some missed chances lessened their influence overall.
It meant that after scores were level for the second of nine times in the 23rd minute (from a great kick by Armagh wing-back Aidan O'Rourke), Armagh were in front for the first time shortly afterwards.
While that might have been flattering to the Northerners, a definite improvement on their part saw them compete more evenly for the rest of the half. It stemmed from the greater involvement of Kieran McGeeney at centre-back (at times given freedom to roam when McEntee took over the marking of Michael Lawlor), a better return from Philip Loughran, and improved play from John McEntee at centre-forward.
McDonnell, too, posed more of a threat, and he came close to setting up Marsden for a goal chance in the 31st minute.
More notably, Gary Kavanagh who had been prominent in the Laois half-forward line lost a great chance for a goal in the 33rd minute when he opted for a point instead.
At the break the sides were level at 0-7 each.
Laois were kept waiting on the field for up to five minutes on the resumption, forcing the referee to run into the dressingroom to call Armagh out, but it didn't seem to bother them in the way they continued to compete aggressively.
After wing-back Andrew McCann (fed by Marsden) put Armagh in front for only the third time, Laois might have got a penalty when substitute Colm Parkinson appeared to be knocked in the small square.
Instead, the referee gave a free out.
Whatever Joe Kernan had to say during the interval, there were obvious signs in Armagh's more disciplined approach of a gradual improvement.
Laois had the self-assurance and the strength to regain the lead through Darren Rooney in the 43rd minute and, after falling behind, to come back to level at 0-10 each in the 47th. But after that, they lost ground steadily.
Philip Loughran achieved a vital advantage for the champions at midfield, with Paul McGrane also more forceful. McGeeney was heavily involved in a defence which excelled around goal when the pressure was at its greatest, and McDonnell and Clarke combined to provide much more solid support for McConville and star player Marsden.
Psychologically, Armagh had broken down the Laois challenge when they went four points clear, but had Michael Lawlor not kicked narrowly wide in the second-last minute, nobody would have ruled out the possibility of a levelling score in injury time.
Gerry Kinneavy's refereeing was generally good, but I thought he made some bad calls.
Scorers - Armagh: O. McConville 0-7 (0-5 frees); D. Marsden 0-2; R. Clarke, P. Loughran, A. O'Rourke, S. McDonnell, J. McEntee and A. McCann 0-1 each.
Laois: B. McDonald 0-6 (0-3 frees); G. Kavanagh 0-4 (0-2 frees); N. Garvan, M. Lawlor and D. Rooney 0-1 each.
ARMAGH: P. Hearty; A. Mallon, E. McNulty, F. Bellew; A. O'Rourke, K. McGeeney (capt.), A. McCann; P. Loughran, P. McGrane; R. Clarke, J. McEntee, O. McConville; S. McDonnell, D. Marsden, T. McEntee.
Sub: P. McKeever for Clarke (63rd minute).
LAOIS: F. Byron; A. Fennelly, C. Byrne, J. Higgins; D. Rooney, T. Kelly, P. McDonald; P. Clancy, N. Garvan; R. Munnelly, M. Lawlor, G. Kavanagh; B. McDonald, I. Fitzgerald (capt.), D. Delaney.
Subs: C. Parkinson for Delaney (17th minute); B. Brennan for Munnelly and S. Kelly for Parkinson (52nd); D. Miller for Kavanagh (60th); H. Emerson for S. Kelly (68th).
Referee: G. Kinneavy (Roscommon).
Attendance: 76,195.
