Constituency wrap: Dublin South

THE battleground of Dublin South East has been split between Fine Gael and Labour, after booting out a former government minister.

Two of Fine Gael’s youngest candidates comfortably saw off their rivals in the four-seater.

Lucinda Creighton topped the poll, taking in 19% of first preferences. Her running-mate Eoghan Murphy, who only became a councillor in 2009, came in second.

Among the 16 candidates were a number of high profile independents including Dylan Haskins and artist Mannix Flynn. But by count five, economist Paul Sommerville was the only non-party competitor still in the running.

But it was Labour’s day, taking seats for former minister Ruairi Quinn and city councillor Kevin Humphreys. FF’s Chris Andrews was edged out and the Green Party’s former minister John Gormley was eliminated after only pulling in 6.8% or 2,370 first preferences.