National League/ Division 2A:Armagh 1-15, Louth 0-13: Armagh's new manager Joe Kernan has received an early introduction to the fact that nothing can be taken for granted in the Allianz National Football League.

His side may have been red-hot favourites to canter to a winning start, but instead they endured the rigours of a titanic battle before squeezing through on the twin scores of craft and experience.

It was Louth's effective fusion of pace and commitment that carried them through a buoyant first half by the end of which they had established a 0-9 to 0-6 lead, despite the sending off of left full back David Brennan.

Louth's ebullient spirit was nourished by the free-taking of full forward Mark Stanfield who bagged eight of his side's first-half scores and went on to play a major role in installing them in an even more comfortable 0-12 to 0-6 position by the 47th minute.

Armagh were in danger of suffering an early embarrassment until Stephen McDonnell took a centre stage role in the 55th minute.

He fired in Armagh's goal past Stuart Reynolds. And even though John McEntee was dismissed for striking, Armagh still had enough guile to carry them through a turbulent final 10 minutes.

ARMAGH: B Tierney, E McNulty, S Maxwell, J Donaldson, A O'Rourke, F Bellew, A McCann, J McEntee, P McGrane, S McDonnell (1-0), B O'Hagan, O McConville (0-9), D Marsden (0-4), T McEntee (0-1), K McGeeney. Subs: J Toal (0-1) for Maxwell (45 mins); P McKeever for O'Hagan (51).

LOUTH: S Reynolds, S Gerard, D Shevlin, D Brennan, P McGinnity, C Quinn, J Neary, S O'Hanlon (0-1), C Grimes (0-1), O McDonnell, K Lynch, M Farrelly, D Reilly, M Stanfield (0-11), JP Rooney. Subs: B Keenan for Gerard (62 mins); A Hoey for McGinnity (69).

Referee: G Kinneavey (Roscommon).