Allianz Football League Division 2

LAOIS 0-16 ARMAGH 0-10

By Rory Delaney

Mike Quirke got his first win as Laois manager as a polished display from his side saw them overcome Armagh at MW Hire O’Moore Park.

Save for a brief period of Armagh dominance after half-time, the home side controlled proceedings and the six point margin didn’t flatter them. Evan O’Carroll and Mark Barry were in ruthless form up front for Laois and their defence was in top form too, conceding just three points from play.

Laois served early notice of their first half intent when Colm Murphy stole through on goal, but as he tried to palm the bouncing ball past Blaine Hughes, he saw it land just the wrong side of the post.

The home side took the lead soon after thanks to an Evan O’Carroll free, following a foul on Eoin Lowry, but Armagh were soon level. Rian O’Neill’s sweetly struck 45 curled straight between the posts to draw Kieran McGeeney’s men level, but that was as good as the first half got for them.

Laois were back in front thanks to a wonderful score from Michael Keogh, and Mark Barry then pushed them two ahead with a free, after a foul on Kieran Lillis. Niall Grimley hit back for Armagh by fisting over a point from close range, but that would be their only score from play in the first half.

Evan O’Carroll started to push Laois further ahead with a brace of points, one from a free after Aaron McKay hauled him down as he raced through on goal. Laois corner-back Brian Byrne then got in on the act as he galloped forward to round off a nice move with a point from close range, as Armagh continued to offer little in attack.

Laois captain Kieran Lillis put his side further ahead with a point off his left foot and then, in injury time, came the score of the half. Laois full-back Mark Timmons started the move by sprinting out of the defence, helped to work the ball up the right wing before drilling a brilliant effort between the posts from near the sideline. It left Laois 0-8 to 0-2 ahead at the break.

Armagh needed to improve on the restart and they duly did, although Laois scored first thanks to a Mark Barry free. Armagh came roaring back though, starting with a point from Conor Turbitt. That lifted the crowd and Rian O’Neill followed it up with three points from frees to get them right back into it.

The pace of the game picked up now and Laois needed to respond, which they did through Evan O’Carroll. Rian O’Neill then landed his first from play before Laois hit two in a minute through frees from O’Carroll and Barry. Jarlath Óg Burns, on as a half-time substitute, lead the Armagh response when the fisted over from 20 yards out before Oisín O’Neill saw a goal effort stopped on the line by Mark Timmons.

That was as good as it got for Armagh, as Laois wrestled back control of the game and started to put some more distance between the teams. Barry and O’Carroll were in control once more, as they held their nerve to kick some important late scores and seal a well-deserved win for the home side.

Scorers for Laois: Mark Barry 0-7 (0-6 frees), Evan O’Carroll 0-5 (0-3 frees), Kieran Lillis, Brian Byrne, Mark Timmons, Michael Keogh 0-1 each.

Scorers for Armagh: Rian O’Neill 0-5 (0-3 frees, 0-1 45), Jamie Clarke 0-2 (frees), Jarlath Óg Burns, Conor Turbitt, Niall Grimley 0-1 each.

LAOIS: Niall Corbet; Brian Byrne, Mark Timmons, Gearoid Hanrahan; Sean O’Flynn, Robbie Pigott, Patrick O’Sullivan; John O’Loughlin, Sean Byrne; Michael Keogh, Colm Murphy, Eoin Lowry; Mark Barry, Kieran Lillis, Evan O’Carroll. Subs: Trevor Collins for Keogh (46), Damien O’Connor for S Byrne (60), Ross Munnelly for Murphy (66), Cahir Healy for B Byrne (69), Darragh Connolly for Pigott (70)

ARMAGH: Blaine Hughes; Paddy Burns, Brendan Donaghy, Aaron McKay; Greg McCabe, Conor O’Neill, Stephen Sheridan; Niall Grimley, Oisín O’Neill; Jason Duffy, Mark Shields, Callum Cumiskey;; Conor Turbitt, Rian O’Neill, Stefan Campbell. Subs: Aidan Nugent for Shields (28), Jarlath Óg Burns for Duffy (ht), Joe McElroy for McCabe (46), Jemar Hall for Cumiskey (56), Jamie Clarke for O O’Neill (60)

Referee: Jerome Henry (Mayo)