Oisin McConville on the attack against Laois at Croke Park

All-Ireland champions Armagh joined Tyrone in the last four after a hard-earned quarter-final victory over Laois at Croke Park.

Once again Armagh left things late before closing out Laois to gain revenge for the NFL semi-final defeat earlier in the season.

Oisin McConville was again the main marksman with seven points while Brian McDonald and Gary Kavanagh with five apiece kept Laois right in the battle.

Laois gave Armagh a good run for their money in the opening half although it took two great saves by goalkeeper Fergal Byron to see the sides go in all-square at the break.

Clockwatch: Armagh v Laois

It was a tit-for-tat in the opening period with the lead changing hands on numerous occasions.

Only on one occasion were the teams separated by more than one point when Laois took a 0-1 to 0-3 lead in the 20th minute.

It was the same in the first period of the second half as the neither side could force the issue.

At least the encounter was a more competitive fair than the previous quarter-final that saw Tyrone romp home against Fermanagh.

However, players at times were frustrated at the fussy refereeing of Gerry Kinneavy who often stopped the flow of the game with some over-zealous officiating.

However, the game turned midway through the second half when the champions appeared to step on the gas.

Pictures of All-Ireland action

Points from Philip Loughran, Ronan Clarke and a couple from McConville took the Orchard County into a 0-14 to 0-10 lead.

But Laois were not going to bow down as they proceeded to claw back the deficit with Noel Garvan and the superb McDonald knocking over points.

But it was Armagh's experience from last season's odyssey that stood to them as they held out for a two-point victory.

They will now face the winners of Monday's quarter-final tie between Donegal and Galway.

Armagh: P Hearty; A Mallon, E McNulty, F Bellew; A O'Rourke, K McGeeney, A McCann; P Loughran (0-1), P McGrane; R Clarke (0-1), J McEntee (0-1), O McConville (0-7); S McDonnell (0-1), D Marsden (0-2), T McEntee. Subs: O'Rourke (0-1)

Laois: F Byron; A Fennelly, C Byrne, J Higgins; D Rooney (0-1), T Kelly, P McDonald; P Clancy, N Garvan (0-1); R Munnelly, M Lawlor (0-1), G Kavanagh (0-5); B McDonald (0-5), I Fitzgerald, D Delaney.

Referee: G Kinneavy (Roscommon).