Constituency wrap: Tipperary South

OUTGOING minister of state Martin Mansergh said he was considering an attempt at the Seanad after he lost his Dáil seat in Tipperary South on Saturday.

No decision has yet been made on his future by the man who served three taoisigh as a special adviser on Northern Ireland before successfully running in the 2007 general election.

Fine Gael came close to returning an unexpected second TD in the three-seat Tipperary South but in the end it was outgoing independent and former Fianna Fáil member Mattie McGrath who took the last berth.

First-time candidate Michael Murphy caused a surprise by challenging strongly for the third seat, as Labour’s Phil Prendergast disappointed by finishing sixth.

Fine Gael’s Tom Hayes topped the poll but it was independent Seamus Healy — running as part of the United Left Alliance — who reached the quota first.