A mature SF head on young shoulders

PEARSE DOHERTY repeatedly stresses his youth, his energy, the fact that he’s the youngest candidate in the field.

And that's all true. He is tall and fresh-faced. Looks like a guy wearing his graduation suit.

Yep, there is the energy and the vigour. But there's no point in overdosing on the age thing because Doherty is as about experienced, as mature, as worldy-wise as they come.