The Laois goalkeeper explains to Gavin Cummiskey why his team should be better able than in 2003 to go the distance against Armagh

Two years ago Mick O'Dwyer brought a Leinster senior title back to Portlaoise for the first time since 1946. But that was as far as it went.

Unfortunately for O'Dwyer and the lads, Monaghan conjured a miracle to send Armagh down the qualifier route, and Laois drew the All-Ireland champions in the last eight.

They were far too raw for Armagh when it came down to the final furlong and too light for the physical battle.

Laois goalkeeper Fergal Byron was part of that odyssey and felt the ultimate disappointment. But he's been around long enough to view it as part of a process.

Byron was there when Laois were also-rans. He watched as the kids started winning minor and under-21 All-Irelands. And he loves it now they've grown up and he is one of the leaders.

"It's a pleasure to be involved with such a great bunch of players down in Laois at the moment," he says.

"I've been playing senior level for 10 years now and it looked for a long time as if we were never going to make a breakthrough. Although we were doing it at underage, we just weren't doing it at senior level.

"It takes time for these guys to mature into men and it takes men to play senior football. The underage success in '96 and '97 has come to fruition now.

"You're now seven years on and we're contesting games on the big stage in Croke Park. It's exciting times for Laois."

Two years is a long time in the gym. O'Dwyer drafted in physical trainer John Doran to do what he had done in Kildare and ensure no team overpowered Laois in the home straight.

"We spent all winter in the gym. You can't grow lads size-wise but you can strengthen them up. Guys have a little more strength in them now. Strength to be able to take a tackle, not so much to be able to knock down lads or plough through them but to be able to take a belt."

In 2003 other matters needed to be addressed.

"The first year for Micko, there was always talk in Laois about indiscipline and that sort of thing as regards training. Micko took us out on the field and ran us around 40 times a night. For the first year obviously that worked.

"We didn't fear Armagh after beating them in the league semi-final. So, we certainly had a good chance of taking them on, but we ran out of steam a little bit towards the end of that game. I suppose the physical hitting took its toll on us.

"We didn't have the strength built up at that stage - we were only a young up-and-coming team. It should be different this time around."

The GAC getting the time-scale right between matches also helped this year. It meant Laois had two weeks after losing to Dublin and were on a level playing field against Derry in the fourth round.

And so we move inevitably to the word most used - and abused - to describe Joe Kernan's team. The C word. Cynical. It doesn't do justice to five Ulster titles in seven years and an All-Ireland in 2002. The word belies a scarily talented team.

That said, Laois will try to avoid a war of attrition. They will attempt to go where Tyrone failed - to beat Armagh with speed and guile. Rely on players like Billy Sheehan and Ross Munnelly to keep the likes of Francie Bellew and Enda McNulty at arm's length.

"We are very aware if the game is tight at the end they will slow it down to their own pace," continues Byron. "In the games we have played in the championship so far we have been absolutely flying in the last 10 minutes of most of them.

"We will have to be a couple of points up at that stage. Armagh are not beaten until the final whistle. If you are not pulling away at that stage it will go right down to the last kick."

He refers to the potency of the Armagh machine. Call them what you like but Armagh outscored Laois the last time 16 points to 14 thanks to their quality forwards.

This is a defining occasion for Laois. They have made the recent step-up without ever threatening to win an All-Ireland so it's clear what they must do next.

"For Laois to take it on to another level we have to win this Saturday. There is absolutely no doubt about it. There is a good bunch of players there but we have to prove ourselves. There's no point in getting to Leinster finals and not winning them and then getting beaten in All-Ireland quarter-finals."