During the first half of the All-Ireland final replay, referee Maurice Deegan showed remarkable inconsistency in the application of the black card.
Moments after Paddy Durcan had knocked over Mayo's first score of the game to abate Dublin's superb start, John Small should undoubtedly have been shown a black card.
The Dublin half-back spilled a short kickout from Stephen Cluxton. Mayo's Diarmuid O'Connor immediately pounced on the opportunity for a turnover. As O'Connor attempted to move away with the ball, Small stuck out an arm bringing down the Mayo half-forward.
Those watching believed it certainly should have been black for the original game's Man of the Match.
No black card again, that's a totally shocking decision
— Philip Jordan (@PhilipJordan7) October 1, 2016
At that moment, it appeared Deegan had left his black card at home. It did not take long for spectators to realise that was not the case.
In the 20th minute, Deegan did produce a black card. It was Dublin fullback Johnny Cooper who was punished for bringing down his opposite number Donie Vaughan.
It was a very similar incident to the one for which Small escaped punishment minutes earlier.
And now Maurice Deegan finds his black card. Was that worse than the first one? Doubt it very much. #DUBvMAYO big loss. Cooper key defender
— Matt Cooper (@cooper_m) October 1, 2016
Shortly before the clock ticked into red at the end of the first half, another black card was shown. Lee Keegan was punished for bringing down Diarmuid Connolly.
At the end of the first half, there was a general consensus regarding the black card rule: it's terrible.
Black Card...Just Fuck Off....! #joke
— Mark McHugh (@MarkMcHugh1) October 1, 2016
The black card AGAIN the main talking point #everygame #dubvmayo
— Colm O Neill (@crossbar13) October 1, 2016
Another glorious day for the black card. What a great success. #GAA
— Niall McCoy (@McCoyNiall) October 1, 2016
Black card lotto again today.
— Kieran Cunningham (@KCsixtyseven) October 1, 2016
