Underdogs Leitrim were competitive early on but goals from Alan Freeman and Andy Moran put Mayo in the ascendancy at the break - leading 2-9 to 0-7.

The defending champions pressed on in the second half with Moran netting for a second time and Kevin McLaughlin added the fourth goal in injury time.

Just before that, Leitrim had lost the services of full-back Fabian McMorrow who picked up his second yellow card for a foul on Enda Varley.

A telling statistic at the end of this one-sided semi-final was that Mayo had a spread of 13 scorers, while free-taker Emlyn Mulligan was responsible for all bar three of Leitrim’s points.

The visitors were heavily reliant on Mulligan in the first half, he pointed three times early on as Mayo struggled to shake off their challengers.

Cillian O’Connor and Alan Dillon gave Mayo the lead initially, but Darren Sweeney and James Glancy opened Leitrim’s account with two well-taken efforts.

Kevin McLoughlin’s first point of the game was replied to by a 35-metre free from Mulligan, only for Keith Higgins and Championship debutant Lee Keegan to swiftly restore Mayo’s advantage.

Mulligan sandwiched in two scores, either side of Mayo’s sixth from the boot of Dillon.

But that good work was undone in the 23rd minute when the Leitrim defence was unlocked - captain Moran and Keegan did the ground work - and Freeman rifled a right-footed shot into the roof of the net.

Mulligan answered back with two frees, however Mayo were clicking into the gear and they chalked up a second goal on the half hour mark.

This time Moran raised the green flag, following up on a tremendous run from Donal Vaughan who was one of a number of Mayo defenders who relished the open space afforded to them in possession.

Leitrim were just not tight enough in defence and a further free from O’Connor and a point from play from midfielder Barry Moran put eight between the sides at the turnaround.

James Horan’s men went on to dominate the second half, putting Leitrim to the sword as they kept taking score after score.

McLoughlin landed the first point on the restart and O’Connor chipped in with four frees between the 43rd and 49th minutes. Mulligan offered Leitrim’s only response.

With the hour mark approaching, substitute Michael Conroy’s hand pass played in Andy Moran for his second goal. That left Leitrim 3-14 to 0-8 and there was simply no way back for them.

Dillon topped up his tally and Varley added his name to the scoresheet along with fellow substitutes Conor Mortimer, Conroy and Ronan McGarrity.

After McMorrow saw red, Leitrim stopper Cathal McCrann had to pick the ball out of his net for the fourth time with McLoughlin supplying the finish in injury-time.

Scorers: Mayo: A Moran 2-0, C O'Connor 0-6 (0-6f), K McLoughlin 1-2, A Freeman 1-0, A Dillon 0-3, C Mortimer 0-2 (0-1f), R McGarrity, E Varley, M Conroy, L Keegan, K Higgins, B Moran, D Geraghty 0-1 each

Leitrim: E Mulligan 0-7 (0-5f), D Sweeney, D Beck, R Cox 0-1 each

MAYO: D Clarke; K Keane, G Cafferkey, K Higgins; L Keegan, D Vaughan, C Boyle; B Moran, D Geraghty; K McLoughlin, C O'Connor, A Dillon; J Doherty, A Moran, A Freeman.

Subs used: R Feeney for Boyle (46 mins, R McGarrity for Geraghty (48), M Conroy for Doherty, C Mortimer for Freeman (both 53), E Varley for A Moran (63).

LEITRIM: C McCrann; D Beck, F McMorrow, P Maguire; C Clarke, E Williams, W McKeon; D Sweeney, S Moran; P McGowan, E Mulligan, P Brennan; R Cox, J Glancy (Glencar), A Craol.

Subs used: R Lowe for McKeon (8 mins), C Sheridan for Moran (half-time), B McDonald for Craol (48), G Hickey for McGowan (57), K Conlon for Lowe (65).

Referee: Martin Higgins (Fermanagh)