Leadership rivals play a cagey game

MINISTERS stalking the leadership of Fianna Fáil played a cagey game as they waited for the clock to run out on Taoiseach Brian Cowen’s consultation exercise.

Mr Cowen’s loyalists were dominant on the airwaves throughout yesterday as those who could potentially oust him remained silent.

The most vocal renegade was junior Science Minister Conor Lenihan who called on his brother, Brian, Mary Hanafin or Micheál Martin to act to remove Mr Cowen.