Bookmaker expects re-election of Martin and O’Keeffe

ONLY three Cork-based TDs are racing certainties to be re-elected to the next Dáil, according to a former minister — and bookmaker.

Celtic Bookmakers, owned by former FG minister Ivan Yates, won’t offer any odds on Micheál Martin, Ned O’Keeffe or Denis O’Donovan, strongly suggesting the FF deputies are unstoppable. In Cork East, the bookmakers are predicting that O’Keeffe will be trailed by FG’s David Stanton at an almost unbackable 1/12 and junior minister Michael Ahern, (6/1 on), FG’s Paul Bradford (8/13) and Labour’s Sean Sherlock (10/11).

The odds point to bad news for former Labour TD John Mulvihill, quoted at 16/1 along with SF’s Sandra McLellan, and the outsider is the Greens’ Sarah Iremonger at 20/1.

Local pundits believe the odds on Ahern are off the mark as he could struggle to win the last of the four seats.

Meanwhile, the FG pairing of Deputy Jim O’Keeffe and Councillor Paddy Sheehan are jointly quoted at 1/6 to win the three-seater Cork South West constituency, along with the outgoing Denis O’Donovan. The latter’s running mate Christy O’Sullivan — the man most likely to cause a major upset — is at 5/2 with Labour’s Michael McCarthy at 7/2. Quentin Gargan of the Greens is 6/1 and the rank outsider is SF’s Cionnaith O Súilleabháin, 40/1.

In Cork North West, the bookies claim minister of state Batt O’Keeffe, is clear favourite, at 1/9. Ex-Fine Gael TD Michael Creed is quoted well at 1/4 to replace his running mate Gerard Murphy, available at 4/7.

FF’s Michael Moynihan is 1/2, streets ahead of party colleague Donal Moynihan at 6/1.

Celtic Bookmakers say Micheál Martin will top the poll in Cork South Central and are offering odds of both 1/10 on FG’s Simon Coveney and Deirdre Clune to follow him into the Dáil.

Jerry Buttimer, their running mate, is out of the picture at 10/1.

Fianna Fáil’s Michael McGrath is put at 1/2, ahead of his running mate John Dennehy who’s evens.

The Green’s Dan Boyle is a racing certainty at 1/20 to retain his seat. Labour Ciarán Lynch is quoted at 12/1, while John Minihan of the PDs is at 25/1, behind Sinn Féin’s Henry Cremin who’s at 16/1.

In Cork North Central, Bernard Allen (FG) and Noel O’Flynn (FF) are joint favourites on 1/12. Kathleen Lynch (Lab) and Billy Kelleher (FF) are quoted at 1/7 and 1/6 respectively. All four are expected to be returned.