Armagh clung on to win two precious Division Two points against neighbours Louth as Sam Mulroy's attempt at a last-gasp Louth equaliser went wide.
As expected, it was tightly contested encounter between the rivals and a point may have been a fair result, but big second half performances from Stefan Campbell, Conor Turbitt and substitute Jarly Og Burns dragged Armagh over the winners line.
Mulroy’s late chance was into the wind, but the free tailed wide and with-it Louth’s chances.
Armagh gave league debuts to Oisin Conaty and Peter McGrane, but were missing Crossmaglen’s Rian O’Neill and Dromintee’s Aaron McKay.
The game was 20 minutes old before Conor Turbitt (free) opened Armagh’s account, but by that stage Louth have found the target on four occasions.
Paul Mathews set the tone with a look up and shoot point in the opening minute and Ryan Burns followed up with a point, which would have been a goal, only for a magnificent save from keeper Blaine Hughes, after the brilliant Craig Lennon bombed through the orange mass defence.
Both sides were finding it difficult to figure out the wind and kicked wides before Ciaran Keenan and full-back Dermot Campbell gave Louth a 0-04 to no score lead.
Turbitt opened Armagh’s account and a minute later Oisin Conaty had cut Louth’s lead in half.
Tommy Durnin grabbed an important point for Louth as Orchard pressure increased and as the break approached Turbitt converted his second free after Ciaran Mackin was fouled and then Rory Grugan floated over a beauty.
Turbit probably should have scored a goal, but goalkeeper Niall McDonnell got down low to deny Armagh and keep his side in front at half-time by the bare minimum, 0-05 to 0-04.
The Wee County started the second much like the first with three points on the trot, from Mulroy (2) and Conor Grimes, while Campbell and Forker hit back to narrow the gap.
Frees from Rory Grugan and Turbitt had the sides level on 53 minutes as Armagh replied four points in a row and Stefan Campbell’s second put the Orchard in front for the first time of the evening.
Jarly Og Burns’ introduction was huge and he was involved when Campbell threaded over his third point.
But Louth weren’t going away quietly and Ciaran Downey closed the gap with a lovely score and Mulroy’s free levelled terms with 63 minutes gone.
It was tense stuff as Turbitt steered over twice again to nudge the Orchard in front but Louth’s Ciaran Downey kept Louth in the game with seconds left of normal time.
Louth kept pressing but Armagh’s defence remained tight and substitute Oisin O’Neill forced a 45’, which Mulroy failed to convert.
Armagh: Blaine Hughes, Paddy Burns, Ciaran Higgins, Peter McGrane, Barry McCambridge, Greg McCabe, Aidan Forker (0-01)., Ben Crealey, Ciaran Mackin; Conor O’Neill, Rory Grugan (0-02, 0-1 free), Joe McElroy, Stefan Campbell (0-03), Conor Turbitt (0-5, 0-4 frees), Oisín Conaty (0-01).
Subs: Shane McPartlan for Higgins (46’), Jarly Óg Burns for McCambridge (54’), Jemar Hall for McCabe (67’), Oisin O’Neill (69’), Jason Duffy for Forker (70+3’).
Louth: Niall McDonnell, Donal, McKenny, Dermot Campbell (0-01), Peter Lynch, Craig Lennon, Anthony Williams, Ciaran Murphy, Conor Early, Tommy Durnin (0-01), Paul Mathews (0-01), Ciaran Keenan (0-01), Conor Grimes (0-01), Ryan Burns (0-01), Sam Mulroy (0-03f), Ciaran Downey (0-02).
Subs: Conall McCaul for Early (54’), Leonard Grey for Murphy (63’), Dylan McKeown for Burns (63’), Wayne Campbell for Mathews (69’), Kyle McElroy for Keenan (70+7’).
Referee: Thomas Murphy (Galway).
