Mayo 0-12 Fermanagh 1-7:Mayo ground out a hard-earned two-point victory over Fermanagh to keep themselves in the chase for the league title. Played on a difficult surface at St Tiernach's Park, Clones, the game was in the balance right to the end.

Fermanagh began well and eased into an early four-point lead thanks to scores from Tom Brewster and Eamon Maguire, Colm Mortimer responding with a point for Mayo.

The game's only goal came from an unexpected source, full-back Barry Owens ending a neat move with a firm low shot. But that was to be Fermanagh's last score for 40 minutes.

In the intervening period it was Mayo who grasped the initiative and they steadily clipped down the deficit with a string of scores coming from Aiden Campbell, Trevor Mortimer, Alan Dillon and Colm Mortimer.

Mayo led 0-7 to 1-2 at the break and after the interval midfielder Pat Harte and half forward Ger Brady added further points.

Mark Little ended Fermanagh's barren spell with a 50th-minute free and in the remaining 20 minutes they added four more scores to keep the contest alive.

But Mayo picked off occasional scores from Conor Mortimer, he finished with a personal tally of six, to emerge triumphant.

MAYO: K O'Malley; L O'Malley, J Kilcullen, K Higgins; E Devenney, B J Padden, P Gardiner; P Harte (0-1), J Nallen; A Campbell (0-2), T Mortimer (0-1), G Brady (0-1); C Mortimer (0-6, three frees), A Dillon (0-1, a free), A Moran. Subs: A O'Malley for G Brady, D Heaney for A Campbell, M McNicholas for P Harte.

FERMANAGH: N Tinney; N Bogue, B Owens (1-0), S Goan; S McDermott, S Lyons, R Johnson; M McGrath, M Murphy; M Little (0-1, a free), D Kelly, E Maguire (0-2); C McElroy, J Sherry (0-1), T Brewster (0-3, two frees). Subs: R McCluskey for S Goan, C Bradley for C McElroy, P Johnson for N Bogue, S Doherty for D Kelly.

Referee: E Murtagh (Longford).