Fermanagh 0-12 Mayo 0-10 Fermanagh players and supporters celebrated in style in Charlestown yesterday as news filtered through of Cavan's demise at Breffni Park.

Their one point win over Mayo was enough to secure a famous breakthrough for the Cinderella county of Ulster and secure for them a place in the semi-finals of the National League.

And the last 15 minutes was played out in a welter of excitement as the Ulster men fought with great courage to carve out a dramatic victory.

The visitors set a blistering pace in the opening minutes and four superb points from play by Raymond Gallagher (two), Ronan McCabe and Stephen Maguire and two from frees by Ciaran Donnelly saw them ahead by 0-6 to 0-1 after 18 minutes.

Thanks to some fine work by James Gill, David Heaney, Pat Kelly, Gary Mullins, Sean Mangan and Trevor Mortimer, Mayo were right back in the game by half time with Gill, Heaney and Mangan reducing the margin to three points. Indeed, they may well have been ahead were it not for three superb goal-line saves by Fermanagh full back Barry Owens.

Mayo dominated the third quarter of the game and Sean Mangan edged them ahead for the first time 12 minutes into the second half. Ciaran Donnelly levelled the game six minutes later and the scene was set for a tense finish.

It was end to end stuff with Donnelly easing Fermanagh back in front before McDonnell and Mortimer regained the lead for Mayo. But Fermanagh responded with classic strikes from Tom Brewster and Raymond Gallagher in a two minute spell and they had their noses in front again. Paul Brewster at midfield, ably supported by Martin McGrath, was inspirational in the closing quarter.

For a change, the gods smiled on the Ulster side as Kieran McDonald's 55 yard free two minutes into added time rebounded off the upright. A draw would not have been enough for Fermanagh as it would have let Cavan sneak through to claim a semi-final spot. The sound of referee Michael Collins's whistle saw an outpouring of emotion from the Fermanagh players and supporters. No one in Charlestown begrudged them their day in the sun.

FERMANAGH: R Gallagher; C Fitzpatrick, B Owens, M Lilley; N Cox, J Gilheany, S McDermott; P Brewster, M McGrath; T Brewster (0-2), R Gallagher (0-4), C Donnelly (0-4, 3f); R McCabe (0-1), S Maguire (0-1), R Keenan. Subs: S Doherty for R Keenan, C Bradley for C Fitzpatrick, R Johnston for R McCabe.

MAYO: P Burke: K Mortimer, J Nallen, P Kelly; P Gardiner, G Mullins, A Higgins; D Heaney, J Gill (0-3); T Mortimer (0-2), K McDonald (0-2, 2f), D Tiernan; S Mangan (0-3 1f), D Sweeney, B Maloney. Subs: D Munnelly for D Tiernan, G Brady for D Sweeney, N Connelly for P Gardiner.

Referee: M. Collins (Cork).