Fourteen-man Armagh kept at bay by brilliant Culliton

The opposing managers were at odds after the final whistle of this dramatic game which ended with Laois securing a victory that helps them in their battle to avoid relegation, and maintains their hopes of grasping a semi-final berth.

Armagh are in trouble, however, and they were furious at the end, with selector Paul Grimley leading remonstrations against the dismissal of Ciarán McKeever just prior to the throw-in for the second-half.

McKeever seemed bemused when referee Michael Duffy issued him a red card but he refused to leave the field until Grimley arrived to usher him away. Armagh boss, Paddy O’Rourke was equally perplexed by the call. “To lose the man at half-time was an incredibly bizarre decision. We honestly don’t know why we lost him, he doesn’t know why. He said nothing happened in the tunnel. Why we lost him I don’t know.”