Sam Mulroy's 45-metre stunner at the death sends Louth into the quarter-finals

Louth manager Gavin Devlin hailed his players' refusal to yield after one of the goals of the championship snatched a dramatic victory over Armagh in Inniskeen. Trailing by two with the hooter seconds away, Sam Mulroy launched a speculative effort from 45 metres that dipped wickedly under the crossbar, deceiving the goalkeeper and sending Louth into the All-Ireland quarter-finals amid wild scenes.

It was a finish that summed up the belief Devlin has instilled. His side stayed within touching distance throughout, never letting Armagh pull clear even when the game threatened to slip away. The manager, in his first season at the helm, spoke of a squad whose confidence has grown through hard-fought results, and of players who, in his words, died with their boots on.

The contest had its turning points. An early second-half goal from Armagh briefly unsettled Louth, threatening to give the favourites control, but the underdogs steadied and refused to let the margin grow beyond reach. That resilience kept them in range for the moment of magic that ultimately decided it.

Devlin reflected candidly on the emotional toll of management compared with his playing days. A multiple All-Ireland winner across grades with Tyrone, he admitted nothing prepares you for the intensity of the sideline, and spoke with disarming honesty about regretting not being the best version of himself as a player, channelling that into helping his current group reach their ceiling.

The man of the match was Dara McDonnell, whose contribution of 1-3 from play, including a crucial second-half goal when Armagh threatened to take charge, proved decisive. McDonnell described the electric atmosphere in the intimate venue and the way it made him want to play there again, while stressing the need to take the quarter-final one game at a time.

That caution is well earned. Louth know a previous last-eight appearance ended in disappointment, and the step up from this round to a knockout at headquarters is significant. But a team winning games in this manner, finding ways to survive and then strike, carries a dangerous momentum into the closing stages of the championship.

The win also speaks to the championship's unpredictability, where a single moment can upend the odds and reward a side that refuses to stop believing. Louth embodied that, and on this evidence they will not fear whoever awaits them at headquarters.

For now, Louth can savour another chapter in a genuine county resurgence. Devlin's side turn their attention to a quarter-final, likely at Croke Park, with belief surging. The journey is far from over, but dramatic wins like this are how breakthroughs are built. For more sport, follow the latest news.