Goals from Tomas Quinn (1-07) and Diarmuid Connolly (3-03) helped the Division 1 leaders take an early 14-point advantage.

The in-form Jason Doherty found the net for Mayo, but Dublin still held a 4-08 to 1-09 interval lead.

Further goals from Doherty and Alan Freeman had the sides level by the 45th minute. However, Dublin rattled off seven of the final nine points to maintain their 100% record after five rounds of Allianz Football League action.

Dublin manager Pat Gilroy made one change from the side named on Friday morning, with Bernard Brogan not back in time from America following his St. Patrick's Day visit to the White House. His brother Alan started in his place.

The Dubs powered into a 1-04 to 0-00 lead in the opening stages of last weekend's win over Monaghan and they again made a bright start to this contest.

Just two players contibuted to the home side's tally in the opening 22 minutes, but the scores came frequently as Dublin moved 4-04 to 0-02 ahead.

Quinn landed the first score from a free a minute after the throw-in, and Mayo wasted some kickable chances early on.

Dublin caused havoc in the Mayo defence for long spells of the opening half, and set up Quinn for the game's first goal in the sixth minute. The St. Vincent's clubman gathered a centre from Paul Flynn before turning and lashing to the net.

Aidan Campbell converted a free for Mayo in response, but two Quinn frees coupled with Connolly's 16th-minute goal pushed Dublin's lead out to 2-03 to 0-01.

Amazingly, Connolly scored three goals in a devastating eight-minute spell. He had a simple tap-in for the second after good work by Alan Brogan and Flynn.

Connolly then flicked the ball overhead into the net from a Darren Daly delivery to complete his hat-trick, leaving Mayo with a daunting task at 4-04 to 0-02 down.

But James Horan's men suddenly woke up with five unanswered points to cut the deficit to nine points by the 30th minute.

Richie Feeney, Peadar Gardiner and Freeman (0-02) found the target as Mayo impressively played themselves back into the game.

Points from Michael Darragh Macauley and Alan Brogan helped steady the ship for Dublin, but Doherty's 33rd-minute goal gave the visitors a huge lift. The Burrishoole goal poacher dodged his way around the Dublin defence before finding enough space to slot home to the left corner of the net.

The sides traded points on two occasions in the closing three minutes of the half, with Dublin still eight points to the good at the break.

Mayo had looked dangerous as the first period came to a close and they continued to threaten when the game resumed. Campbell claimed his third point for Horan's charges who then left the Dubs stunned with a brace of quick-fire goals.

Doherty raised his second green flag in the 39th minute when Freeman left a trio of Dublin defenders in his wake before transferring the ball to Doherty who finished well.

Three minutes later, full-forward Freeman brought his tally to 1-03 after being teed up by Andy Moran. Both of the goals came as the result of a period of midfield dominance by Mayo who had the gap down to the minimum.

The influential Moran brought his side level for the first time in the 46th minute, sending over his second point of an enthralling battle.

However, Mayo could not kick on from here and Dublin seized back control. Gilroy's charges strung together five unanswered points in a 10-minute spell.

Quinn, Connolly and Kevin McManamon all played their part as Dublin made it 4-13 to 3-11 with 13 minutes left on the clock.

Alan Dillon's brace of frees reduced the arrears to three points in the 63rd minute, but Dublin stood firm with late scores from Quinn and defender Darragh Nelson giving them a five-point winning margin.

Scorers - Dublin: D Connolly 3-03, T Quinn 1-07 (0-07f), K McManamon 0-02, MD Macauley, A Brogan, D Nelson 0-01 each

Mayo: J Doherty 2-00, A Freeman 1-03, A Campbell 0-03 (0-02f); A Moran, A Dillon (0-02f), R Feeney 0-02 each, P Gardiner 0-01

DUBLIN: M Savage; D Daly, S Murray, P Brogan; P Casey, G Brennan, D Nelson; D Bastick, B Cahill; P Flynn, K McManamon, MD Macauley; T Quinn, D Connolly, A Brogan.

Subs used: P McMahon for Daly (half-time), B Cullen for Macauley (42 mins), K Nolan for Casey (48), P Andrews for Flynn (60), P Burke for A Brogan (68).

MAYO: R Hennelly; T Cunniffe, C Barrett, K Higgins; R Feeney, G Cafferkey, K McLoughlin; R McGarrity, T Parsons; A Campbell, A Dillon, A Moran; P Gardiner, A Freeman, J Doherty.

Subs used: J Kilcullen for Parsons (42 mins), A Kilcoyne for Campbell (54), C Hallinan for Cafferkey (56), J Burke for McLoughlin (65).

Referee: Maurice Deegan (Laois).