Armagh edge out Laois in thriller

Armagh 0-15 Laois 0-13

Joe Kernan's All-Ireland champions Armagh survived, but only just, as this quarter-final thriller went right to the wire at Croke Park.

Manager Joe Kernan summed up his side's two points win in one word - experience.

"I think the experience we have gained over the past three or four years stood to us today," he said after watching the Orchard men carve out victory with a gritty final quarter display.

The scores were level on nine different occasions in a gripping encounter, but sadly for Laois and Mick O'Dwyer, the fairytale had to end somewhere.

Laois showed no fear of the champions, their high-energy approach matched generously by willing support play and accurate finishing.

Armagh were more efficient with limited use of possession, the result a tight, close first half rich in entertainment, and level on no less than six occasions.

Brian McDonald and Gary Kavanagh swapped early scores with Armagh's Oisin McConville, before defender Aidan O'Rourke edged the holders in front with a marvellous long range score.

And they could have had a goal, but for Fergal Byron's superb save from Steven McDonnell.

But McDonald and Michael Lawlor hit back for an adventurous Laois side, only to see Tony McEntee level the scores with a long range effort.

Two Gary Kavanagh points had Laois back in front, but the sides went in level on 0-7 each at the break after McConville tapped over a free.

Armagh started the second half with a long range point from defender Andy McCann, but again the lead changed hands rapidly.

Despite the deployment of Tony McEntee as an extra defender, Armagh were leaking scores at an alarming rate, and when Kavanagh made it all square for the ninth time 13 minutes into the second half, Laois began to genuinely believe they could do it.

But McConville kicked Armagh into the relative comfort of a two points lead 15 minutes from the end, and signs of the swagger began to appear.

Soon four points was the difference, McConville dancing through for a delightful individual score, and now skipper Kieran McGeeney was the master at the back, mopping up everything that came his way.

Laois never gave up, and two late points from McDonald set up a gripping finish, but it was Armagh who held out to continue the defence of their crown and set up a semi-final meeting with either Galway or Donegal.

Armagh: Paul Hearty, Andy Mallon, Enda McNulty, Francie Bellew, Aidan O'Rourke (0-1), Kieran McGeeney, Andy McCann (0-1), Philip Loughran (0-1), Paul McGrane, Ronan Clarke (0-1), John McEntee (0-1), Oisin McConville (0-7, 4f), Steven McDonnell (0-1, f), Diarmuid Marsden (0-2), Tony McEntee.

Sub: Paddy McKeever for Clarke.

Laois: Fergal Byron, Aidan Fennelly, Colm Byrne, Joe Higgins, Darren Rooney (0-1), Tom Kelly, Paul McDonald, Padraig Clancy Noel Garvan (0-1), Ross Munnelly, Michael Lawlor (0-1), Gary Kavanagh (0-6, 3f), Brian McDonald (0-4, 2f), Ian Fitzgerald, Damien Delaney.

Subs: Colm Parkinson for Delaney, Barry Brennan for Munnelly, Stephen Kelly for Parkinson, Donal Millar for Kavanagh, Hugh Emerson for Kelly.

Referee: Gery Kinneavy (Roscommon)