History favours Cooney to win presidential race

CHRISTY COONEY may gain some reassurance from the knowledge that only once in the last ten elections has the runner-up the previous time not been chosen President of the GAA and he remains favourite to edge out Liam O’Neill and Sean Fogarty in this afternoon’s vote at Congress in Sligo.

However, while all the indications are that he will make up for his disappointment at losing by 17 votes (171/154) to Nickey Brennan three years ago, he would be the first to concede that there’s no absolute certainty of success.

Former Leinster chairman Albert Fallon from Longford has the dubious distinction of being the only runner-up not to be elected at the second attempt. Back in 1999, he came second of three candidates to Sean McCague (173/85) in an election where the PR system was used for the third time. Noel Walsh from Clare received 66 votes.