Armagh 1-14 Laois 2-8: Armagh diced with danger before securing their second brace of points in front of 8,000 supporters at Oliver Plunkett Park, Crossmaglen, yesterday.
From a seemingly impregnable position - they led by 12 points at one stage - Armagh had to resort to desperate defensive measures as Laois launched a spirited comeback that brought them within a whisker of securing their first point in the competition.
In the end, it was the infusion of experience and craft from the Armagh bench that proved decisive. Kieran McGeeney provided the stabilising influence and Oisín McConville ensured greater accuracy as Armagh withstood a Laois blitz which produced goals from substitute Paul Lawlor and half back Joe Higgins.
This was in sharp contrast to Laois's first-half offering when they were outgunned at midfield and scored only once from play as they trailed by 0-8 to 0-2 at the break.
And when Steven McDonnell dispatched a penalty to the net shortly after the restart, Armagh looked to be coasting. But Laois responded with a two-goal salvo and an injection of confidence that seriously threatened Armagh's authority. It was not until McGeeney wielded his influence and McConville flighted over a couple of late scores that Armagh could breathe more freely.
For Laois, this was a third successive defeat and an indication of just how much work lies ahead for Mick O'Dwyer and his charges.
ARMAGH: C McKinney; A Mallon, F Bellew, P McCormack; A O'Rourke, T McEntee, A McCann; P McGrane (0-1), J Toal (0-1); P McKeever (0-3), M Mackin (0-1), B Mallon; S McDonnell (1-4), R Clarke (0-2), D Marsden. Subs: K McElvanna for McCormack (20 mins); O McConville (0-2) for Clarke (47 mins); K McGeeney for Toal; K Hughes for O'Rourke (both 52 mins); P Loughran for B Mallon (70 mins).
LAOIS: F Byron; P McDonald, C Byrne, T McDonald; J Higgins (1-0), T Kelly, K Fitzpatrick (0-1); P Clancy, N Garvan; M Delaney (0-1), M Lawlor (0-2) C Bergin; C Kelly (0-2), C Parkinson , C Conway (0-1). Subs: M Dunne for Bergin (26 mins); P Lawlor (1-1) for Delaney (42 mins);
Referee: Gerry Kinneavey (Roscommon)
Wexford and former All Star hurler Larry O'Gorman has announced his retirement from the game. His decision comes less that two weeks after his half-back colleague of 1996 All-Ireland winning fame, Liam Dunne, also retired. O'Gorman has been part of the senior intercounty scene for the past 15 years with the highlight of his career been the 1996 All-Ireland final victory over Limerick. The 37-year-old Faythe Harriers will continue to play at club level.
Tipperary hurler Eoin Kelly starred in Limerick IT's Fitzgibbon Cup victory (2-10 to 0-12) over Cork IT in Cork on Saturday. He steered home the opening goal after seven minutes and set up Clive Early for a second six minutes after the break to make it 2-7 to 0-7, having been 1-5 to 0-7 in front at half-time. Cork IT relied too heavily on the free-taking of Kieran Murphy, who converted nine opportunities, though they exerted a lot of pressure in the closing stages.
LIMERICK IT: S Hawes; B O'Connell, J Coen, R Reilly; M Cahill, M O'Brien, D Raele; I Tannion, A Quinn; S McGrath, S Tierney, C Plunkett; E Kelly (1-9), N Healy (0-1), C Early (1-0). Subs: D Morrissey for Plunkett' N Callanan for Early.
CORK IT: M Coleman; B Murphy, J Tyrell, B O'Sullivan; J O'Neill, J Murphy, V Hurley; J Gardiner (0-2), P Tierney; G McCarthy, C O'Leary (0-1), S O'Sullivan; K Murphy (0-9), G McCarthy, A Fogarty. Subs: M Fennelly for O'Neill; R Ryan for Fogarty; M O'Sullivan for Tierney; S O'Sullivan for McCarthy.
Referee: J McDonnell (Tipperary).
