Nominations cliffhanger for Tim and Derek

The nomination process for the IFA election provided yet another bout of drama. As the deadline approached on Wednesday afternoon, the two most high-profile candidates in the race were jostling for the last remaining nomination.

Deputy president Tim O’Leary and Carlow chair Derek Deane each secured five nominations through Tuesday and Wednesday, and needed one more to enter the race for president.

Candidates needed the endorsement of their own county executive and five more nominations from among the 29 county chairs – a maximum of four candidates could make the starting gate.

Livestock committee chair Henry Burns of Laois and Galwayman Joe Healy both filed their nomination papers on Tuesday, and were safely in the race. Burns had no problem gaining the nominations necessary. Joe Healy gained Donegal and the five Connacht counties.

Perhaps the surprise was Flor McCarthy. The chair of the rural development committee added Clare, South Tipperary and Waterford to his native Kerry. The addition of Meath and Louth saw him file his papers on Wednesday. That left Tim and Derek. Both amassed five nominations, and were one short. Derek Deane had his native Carlow, West Cork and Limerick. Tim Cullinan’s withdrawal opened up Limerick for Derek, as Nigel Renehan’s switch to the deputy race saw the Cavan vote available to him.

For Tim O’Leary, his own Cork central was augmented by north Cork, Westmeath, Dublin and Monaghan (again post-Reneghan). He was now also one short.

Remaining vote

The only remaining vote available was in Longford. Chair Sean Conefrey declined to support either man’s candidacy. Longford was willing to support other candidates, but Joe Healy and Henry Burns had sufficient votes elsewhere, and Nigel Reneghan withdrew. The sense was that there was little support for either Deane or O’Leary in Longford, so neither received the vital last vote.

The last remaining hope was for either a vote to switch, or for one man to withdraw, allowing the other to pick up a newly available nomination.