Joe Kernan's Armagh beat Mick O'Dwyer's Laois side

Manager Joe Kernan heaped glowing praise on his Armagh team after their two-point win over Leinster champions Laois at Croke Park on Sunday.

Armagh reached the All-Ireland semi-finals with a 0-15 to 0-13 victory in a tight encounter and Kernan said he was impressed with the way his men triumphed.

"I am relieved to get through," said Kernan who guided Armagh to their first Sam Maguire success last year.

"We knew Laois would be hard to beat. They are a big, fit side led by a great man in Mick O'Dwyer.

Match report Armagh v Laois

"But I am very proud of my own players, the way they worked in the second half.

"They could have laid down if they wanted and no-one would have begrudged them that but there is still plenty of fight in them."

Armagh forward Steven McDonnell said: "We had to produce a good second half because we were poor in the first.

"It was a tough game but we are coming into a bit of form now."

Laois boss Mick O'Dwyer was satsfied with the way his side performed.

"We really put it up to them. All the pundits did not give us a chance," said O'Dwyer.

"But this is a good young Laois team. We are building and have learned a lot and acquitted ourselves well.

"There was not much in it at the end. Maybe inexperience caught us out.

"Armagh are a difficult team to beat and it is going to be an interesting end to the Championship."