Armagh lose out to Laois

Armagh took on Laois yesterday in the first round of the Football Qualifiers but it wasn’t to be their day with Armagh crashing out of the All Ireland Football series for 2016.

The match held in O’Moore Park in Portlaoise clashed with the Ireland Belgium game so if you were a fan of both there really wasn’t much celebration to be done.

A large contingent of vocal Armagh supporters outnumbered the locals in their own ground but even this wasn’t enough to change the outcome.

First half had seen Laois taking the lead from the start and a 16th minute goal from Conor Meredith saw level scoring going in at half time at 1:4 to 0:7 but this is as good as it got with Armagh only able to score three points in the second half compared to Laois’ six.

Laois got to the final whistle with a three point lead despite several late unconverted opportunities from play for Armagh. Final score was Armagh 0:10 Laois 1:10.

The players and manager Kieran McGeeney now can only wait and see what the Division Three games in the Allianz Football League throw at them.

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Armagh's Charlie Vernon breaks away at Round 2A of the All Ireland Football qualifiers in Portlaoise. Photograph: Columba O'Hare

Armagh's Stefan Campbell races away from Laois's Conor Meredith at Round 2A of the All Ireland Football qualifiers. Photograph: Columba O'Hare

Armagh's Niall Grimley and Laois's Gearoid Hanrahan hit the deck at Portlaoise. Photograph: Columba O'Hare

Armagh's Charlie Vernon and Conor Meredith, Laois fight it out at Portlaoise. Photograph: Columba O'Hare

Joe McElroy, Armagh races away from Conor Meredith, Laois at Round 2A of the All Ireland Football qualifiers. Photograph: Columba O'Hare

Armagh's Aaron Findon Fuji XT-10 and Fujifilm 100-400

Action all around at the Armagh Laois game. Fuji XT-10 and Fujifilm 100-400

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Armagh's Shea Heffron marking Laois's Donal Kingston in Round 2A of the All Ireland Football qualifiers. Photograph: Columba O'Hare

Ireland fans watch the game from afar. Fuji XT-10 and Fujifilm 100-400

Armagh's Charlie Vernon claims the ball from Laois's Gary Walsh at Round 2A of the All Ireland Football qualifiers. Photograph: Columba O'Hare

Anxious times for Armagh's Kieran McGeeney against Laois. Photograph: Columba O'Hare

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Armagh's Rory Grugan

Charlie Vernon. Fuji XT-10 and Fujifilm 100-400 and Fujifilm 1.4 Converter