All-Ireland finalists Mayo, fielding 11 of their Croke Park team, escaped by the skin of their teeth at Irvinestown in this absorbing league opener. However, the visitors made few friends when they allowed their frustration to boil over in the second half, and earned bookings for four players, including substitute Liam McHale.

That frustration stemmed from a gritty Fermanagh fight-back midway through the second half, when they were seven points down. It took a committed display from Mayo midfielder James Nallen and two vital stops at either end of the half by goalkeeper Peter Burke to take Mayo out of trouble.

Mayo's best spell came in the opening half when Nallen and David Nestor kept them on the boil. A Nestor goal in the 19th minute helped them to a half time lead of 1-5 to 0-4.

Two quick points from Nestor restarted the second half after Raymond Gallagher's close-range shot had been smothered by goalkeeper Burke at the other end.

But just when it looked that Mayo were coasting to victory, Fermanagh staged a revival that produced five points without reply. Gallagher and Shane King scored two points each and half back Thomas Callaghan had the other. Mayo's superior fitness counted for nothing as Fermanagh ended the game on the attack. Callaghan and Stephen McGuire forced David Heaney and Peter Burke into desperate goal-line clearances.