They finished level in a tense, tetchy, but supremely entertaining Croke Park semi-final.

The little Ulster county, appearing in a first ever semi-final, had opportunities to win the game, but a series of wides in the final stages allowed Mayo off the hook.

Fermanagh got off to a flyer, three points in the opening eight minutes leaving their opponents standing.

James Sherry, Mark Little and Colm Bradley were all on target, and it wasn't until the 10th minute that Conor Mortimer got the Connacht champions' first score from a free.

But that was the signal for Mayo to shift into a higher gear, and with David Brady and Ronan McGarrity getting on top in midfield, and Kieran McDonald orchestrating attacks, they pressed forward in numbers.

Half backs Peter Sherry and Stephen McDermott were in inspired form for Charlie Mulgrew's side, but Mayo kept chipping away at the lead, with points from Alan Dillon and Conor Mortimer, before a Dillon free gave them lead for the first time 10 minutes before the break.

Full back David Heaney thumped over a long range effort to open up a two points lead, and Fermanagh were flagging, without a score in 22 minutes.

But they finished the half strongly, Martin McGrath stepping it up in midfield and points from Bradley and Eamon Maguire narrowed the gap to a point, Mayo ahead by 0-6 to 0-5 at the break.

Fermanagh had a golden goal chance when Ciaran O'Reilly broke clear, but his shot was saved by Peter Burke.

And Mayo were reduced to 14 men seven minutes into the second half when James Gill picked up a second yellow card for a high tackle on Stephen Maguire.

Liam McBarron eased the Ulster men back in front two minutes later, but a superb effort from McDonald had the sides level almost immediately.

Fermanagh moved the ball confidently from the back, but when it came to finishing, they were found wanting, the normally accurate Tom Brewster sending two clear chances wide.

But Brewster redeemed himself with the lead point from a free 12 minutes form the end, and with McGrath performing heroically in the central area, the minnows from the Lakeland county began to believe they could do it.

Mortimer levelled again from a free, and added a neat point from play to regain the lead for John Maughan's side.

Fermanagh had chances to win it, but they needed some stoic defending from full back Barry Owens to keep Mayo out in a tense finish, and in the end, Fermanagh earned a chance to relive the biggest day in the county's sporting history.