Louth manager ponders FG move

LOUTH football boss Peter Fitzpatrick has come under public pressure to reconsider his decision not to seek a Fine Gael nomination for the forthcoming election.

Fitzpatrick issued a statement yesterday that he would not be seeking a nomination for the party. After weeks of speculation surrounding his intentions the Wee county manager declined for personal reasons and the amount of time required for his current role as county manager. However in the wake of the statement, Fitzpatrick revealed he is to reconsider his original decision following the amount of calls he has received from constituents.

“The amount of calls I received was unreal. I can’t believe the amount of support I’ve had. It’s a big decision, and I’m still thinking about it.”

The possibility of Fitzpatrick standing in the five-seat Louth constituency — one of the seats will automatically go to another former county footballer, current Ceann Comhairle Seamus Kirk — first arose a number of weeks before Christmas.

Former Mayo manager and current Fine Gael TD John O’Mahony encouraged Fitzpatrick to stand while continuing to fill his role of county team boss. There are six other candidates in the running for the Fine Gael nomination, including sitting TD Fergus O’Dowd, and Fitzpatrick has until this Friday to make his final decision on the matter.