Third FG leadership debate in Galway a fiesty affair

Rivals Simon Coveney and Leo Varadkar wrestled for rural Ireland support in the third leadership debate on Saturday night as they increasingly jabbed at each others' track records and involvement in last year's disastrous general election strategy, writes Fiachra O'Cionnaith.

The issues dominated the two hour debate in front of more than 600 people in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, as the tension between both potential taoisigh was ratcheted up before Fine Gael members prepare to start voting on Monday for their next leader.