When nominations opened for the Connacht regional chair position of IFA back in January, Fine Gael and Labour were being tipped to be re-elected, Donald Trump was likely to be blown away by a mainstream Republican Party candidate, and Arsenal were ahead of Leicester City in the Premier League. How things have changed, and yet Connacht awaits an election for the position.

However, it seems as if a resolution to the current impasse has finally been found. The five nominations from the counties – (in alphabetical order) Eddie Davitt (Sligo), Padraic Joyce (Mayo), Des McHugh (Leitrim), John O’Beirne (Roscommon) and Tom Turley (Galway) – stand. Now the five county chairmen will vote for candidates in order of choice. They cannot vote for the candidate from their own county, which might spare embarrassment in a couple of cases.

Thus, the kingmakers now are JP Cowley (Sligo), James Gallagher (Leitrim), Martin Gilvarry (Mayo), John Hanley (Roscommon) and Pat Murphy (Galway). The deadline for nominations is Friday, with voting then to take place among county executives if a contest follows, as it surely will. Votes will not be weighted.

It would be fitting if the executives were held on Saturday 15 May, which is Eurovision night. Douze points all round.