Points from Brian Mallon, Aaron Kernan, Ronan Clarke and Oisin McConville put the Orchard men three points clear.

BBC: SPORT | Northern Ireland | Gaelic Games | McConville fires Armagh to glory

Luke Fitzgerald, another highly-prized youngster, joins his Leinster colleague and captain Brian O'Driscoll in midfield while the solid half-back pairing of Ronan O'Gara and Eoin Reddan continue where they left off last season.

BBC: Full-back Earls gets Ireland call

After a great break by Denis Hickie, captain Brian O'Driscoll chipped ahead and out-paced Tertius Losper to score, with Ronan O'Gara converting.

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Brian O'Driscoll (concussion) and Jamie Roberts (wrist) are major doubts, but Ronan O'Gara (eye cut) and Tommy Bowe (elbow) should be fit for selection.

BBC: Battered Lions lose injured props