Armagh back to winning ways against Laois

Armagh 1-14 Laois 2-8

Laois succumbed to a third straight Division 1B loss as an improved Armagh outfit defeated the Leinster champions 1-14 to 2-8 at Crossmaglen.

Despite the concession of two goals and six points in the second half, the Ulster men were full value for their win, with sub Oisin McConville’s free three minutes into injury time handing them a second win in three.

A fourth minute point from Paddy McKeever and All-star Stephen McDonnell’s first score eight minutes later, both from play saw the 2002 All-Ireland winners hit the front before Martin Delaney and Chris Conway levelled for Laois.

They were to prove to be the visitors’ only scores of the first half, as McDonnell notched his second and third points, and Ronan Clarke and John Toal also got on the score sheet for a 0-8 to 0-2 break advantage.

With Laois half forward Chris Bergin off injured and replaced by Mark Dunne, Armagh continued their dominance into the second period, through a McKeever free on 38 minutes, a Diarmuid Marsden point from play, a third McKeever effort and a Stephen McDonnell penalty four minutes later, for a healthy 1-11 to 0-2 lead.

Laois substitute Paul Lawlor hit the Armagh net off a Noel Garvin pass on 45 minutes and a blue-and-white revival looked on the cards just six minutes later when Joe Higgins stepped in to slide in a second goal past Armagh’s Kieran McKinney.

A quick fire string of Laois points from Dunne, Lawlor and a brace from corner forward Colm Kelly, the second on 63 minutes when one-on-one with McKinney and the goal at his mercy, brought Laois to within three points.

But the visitors could only manage one more score before McConville dashed their hopes.