MAYO: 0-12, LEITRIM: 0-5.

MAYO turned in a fine second half to beat Leitrim in a vital tie at Ballina yesterday.

In a game in which seven players were booked, four from Leitrim, the visitors showed early promise against the wind but failed to convert their possession into scores.

In fact Leitrim, who had their first point in the second minute from a free, had to wait until the 28th minute for their only other first half score, also from a free.

Mayo went ahead in the 12th minute with a John Casey point and from then until the interval played some great possession football out of defence. They had four other points, from Maurice Sheridan, Brian Heffernan, P J Loftus and James Horan, to leave them 0-6 to 0-2 ahead at the break.

The visitors could only manage three more points in the second half, two from frees.