On the scoreboard it looked like a comfortable enough win for Mayo against Fermanagh - it was anything but. Fermanagh led by six points at half time and held that advantage for most of the second half.
The crucial moment came with just over seven minutes remaining when referee Joe McQuillan awarded Mayo a controversial penalty when Aidan O'Shea went down easily under pressure from the Fermanagh fullback Che Cullen.
Cillian O'Connor scored the penalty for Mayo who would eventually win by five points.
Reaction online, even from some within Mayo, was in no doubt that Aidan O'Shea took a dive to win the penalty.
Mayo in trouble here. No intensity or intent.
— Richie Feeney (@RichieF5) July 9, 2016
No penalty great ball by McLoughlin disgrace of a call from Ref..
— David Brady (@D9BMayo) July 9, 2016
Give me a break, can't make a call like that. Must be something wrong with AOS studs, keeps falling over when ball comes near him #MAYvFERM
— Tomás Quinn (@mossyquinn) July 9, 2016
.@EoinListon or to anyone else! Amazing to see Aidan O'Shea fall like that on a puff of wind. You never fell that easily!
— Matt Cooper (@cooper_m) July 9, 2016
O'Shea went down easier than......eh Aston Villa there. #GAA
— Off The Ball (@offtheball) July 9, 2016
If that's a penalty, should be 10 in every game.
— Kieran Cunningham (@KCsixtyseven) July 9, 2016
Disgraceful dive and disgraceful refereeing. Aidan O'Shea and Joe McQuillan should be ashamed. Hard luck to Fermanagh
— AllGAA (@AllGaa_) July 9, 2016
Back in the day a red card meant players weren't eligible for an All-Star. Should do something similar now with divers like Aidan O'Shea
— Chris McNulty (@ChrisMcNultyDgl) July 9, 2016
Aidan O'Shea you skitter #Penalty🤔
— Steven McDonnell (@StevenMcD13) July 9, 2016
That's appalling from Aidan O'Shea. He should be in France if he wants to do that #MayoFer
— Shane Brophy (@BrophShane) July 9, 2016
However, for some Mayo fans, O'Shea was justified in his actions due to the treatment he receives from opposition defenders and a perceived lack of calls in his favour from referees.
After years of getting no frees from refs I'd say O'Sé won't lose much sleep over that. #MayoGAA
— Cormac O'Malley (@cormacpro) July 9, 2016
Despite the victory, it was a performance which will leave Mayo fans feeling even less optimistic about their chances of ending that 65-year All-Ireland drought.
Good win but ominous signs going forward for Mayo unfortunately ......poor today and again on line... #strange
— Conor.mortimer (😷)⚽️ (@Conmort) July 9, 2016
Mayo football needs a lobotomy. That was terrible.
— Terry Reilly (@TerReilly) July 9, 2016
Lots of bad option taking by Mayo, handpass/hop/solo too many, bad shot selection. A few individuals are dragging them over the line here.
— Michael Foley (@MickFoley76) July 9, 2016
Wind or no wind..1st time in a half of football I've seen a soft side in Mayo football,half token efforts,no intensity in tackle
— David Brady (@D9BMayo) July 9, 2016
tired of 'Mayo leaders need 2 step up comment' Id much prefer pundits 2 name names, then it can be discussed rather than presumed #MAYvFERM
— Eamonn O’ Hara (@EamonnOHara8) July 9, 2016
Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
