Having been deprived of their only two league points by GAC, Kildare are now bottom of the league table following their three-point defeat to Mayo yesterday at Ballina.

The two points captured by Mayo boosts their chances of making the knockout stages with two games remaining. Conditions in Ballina did not help either team and a slippy surface and a strong wind meant that enterprising football was at a premium.

Mayo led at the interval despite having played into the strong wind. Indeed, it was their first-half performance that laid the foundation for victory.

The Leinster county failed to take advantage of the elements in that opening period and they seldom had the Mayo defence under any real pressure.

Mayo grabbed the initiative from the start with points by Maurice Sheridan and Conor Mortimer. Kildare worked their way back into the game and points by John Doyle, Paddy Murray, Barry Moyles, and Terry Rossiter gave them a two-point lead after half an hour.

But before the break Mayo landed points form James Gill, Conor Mortimer, David Heaney and Maurice Sheridan to lead by two points at the break. On the restart Kildare hinted of a comeback with points from Paddy Murray and Ronan Sweeney.

However, Sheridan and Sweeney put Mayo back in front and there they stayed despite the Lillywhites being handed a real lifeline when Mayo's David Tiernan was sent off for a second bookable offence.

MAYO: F Ruddy, K Mortimer, P Kelly, R Connolly, A Roche, G Mullins, F Costello, D Heaney (0-1), F Kelly, J Gill (0-1), D Sweeney (0-2), D Tiernan, M Sheridan (0-5), A Dillon, C Mortimer (0-3). Subs: B Ruane for Costello; T Mortimer for F Kelly.

KILDARE: C Byrne, D Lyons, R Quinn, A McLoughlin, P Mullarkey (0-1), D Hendy, A Rainbow, R Sweeney, K Brennan, P Murray (0-3), G Ryan, J Doyle (0-3), B Moyles (0-1), M Wright, T Rossiter (0-1). Subs: E Noone for McLoughlin; K Ennis for Rossiter; J Donoghue for Wright; P Hurley for Murray.

Referee: P Russell (Tipperary).