Laois show grit and skill to squeeze past Armagh

Laois 1-13 Armagh 0-15

Laois showed true grit, boundless courage and no little skill in squeezing past Armagh in a tough, tense Allianz League Division 2 encounter.

Bolstered by a Paul Cahillane goal from a 13th minute penalty and some inspirational scores from Donie Kingston, Laois led by 1-7 to 0-6 at the break but were forced to withstand a resurgent Armagh rally in the third quarter.

With Stefan Campbell and Micheal McKenna setting the template for their renaissance, the home side mounted a sustained blitz that brought five points and left Laois clinging to a 1-11 to 0-13 lead.

But their courage and commitment were rewarded when the outstanding Kingston and the strong-running O’Carroll pilfered points that eventually took them over the line.

Scorers: Armagh: S Campbell 0-6 (4f), M McKenna 0-3, G McParland 0-2 (f), A Forker 0-1, N Grimly 0-1, S Heffron 0-1, E Rafferty 0-1.

Laois: P Cahillane 1-2 (1-0 pen 1f), D Kingston 0-5 (3f), E O'Carroll 0-3, G Walsh 0-1 (f), M Campion 0-1, N Donoher 0-1.

Armagh: N McNeice; S Heffron, C Vernon, R McCaughley; S Forker, A Forker, M Shields; A Findon, N McConville; S Campbell, M McKenna, S Sheridan; C Watters, C O'Hanlon, G McParland. Subs: E Rafferty for McConville (half-time), E McVerry for McParland (47), N Grimley for Sheridan (50), J McElroy for S Forker (60), Oisin MacIomhair for Watters (61), S Connell for McCaughley (68).

Cards: Yellow: Vernon (27), A Forker (69). Black; Grimley (62).

Laois: G Brody; R Kehoe, M Timmons, D Seale; D Strong, P Cotter, G Dillon; K Lillis, K Meaney; J Farrell, D Kingston, N Donoher; P Cahillane, E O'Carroll, G Walsh. Subs: M Campion for Meaney (17), D O'Connor for Strong (54), D O'Reilly for Walsh (55), R O'Connor for Campion (57),

Yellow Cards: Farrell (11). Red: Farrell (67).

Referee: B Cassidy (Derry).