Howlin considers presidency race

THE race to become the next GAA president is, for now, a three-horse race, but could shortly be reduced to two if outgoing Leinster chairman Sheamus Howlin follows Con Hogan’s example and withdraws his candidacy.

Former Tipperary chairman Hogan yesterday pulled out of the GAA presidency race, leaving Laois’ Liam O’Neill, Donegal’s Tom Daly and Wexford’s Howlin as the three remaining candidates.

However, Wexford native Howlin is still deliberating whether to put his name forward for the vote at Annual Congress in Mullingar, Co Westmeath on Friday, April 15.

Howlin is currently busy arranging the handing over of provincial powers to his vice-chairman, Longford’s Martin Skelly, who will succeed him at the Leinster annual convention on February 26.

In a statement released through the Tipperary County Board yesterday, Hogan explained that the other candidates had stronger support bases.

He had also come to the conclusion it would be difficult to become the second successive President from Munster after Christy Cooney.

“On receipt of the nomination for the position of Uachtarán Chumann Luthchleas Gael from Tipperary, I undertook to assess the situation and make a final decision on my candidature in the spring, well in advance of the election at Congress,” said Hogan.

“The presence of candidates with a stronger provincial and geographic support base than my own, coupled with the fact the current President is from Munster, would make it very difficult for me to achieve the necessary support and, accordingly, I have decided not to contest the election.

“I would like to wish the remaining candidates well; whoever is successful will make an excellent president and can be assured of my total support in my remaining period as a Trustee of the Association and into the future.”

With Daly having garnered the backing of all nine Ulster counties, he has become a veritable challenger to the favourite O’Neill, who polled strongly against Cooney for the position at Congress in Sligo three years ago.

Howlin, who succeeded O’Neill as Leinster chairman, is still believed to be interested in the presidency and is regarded as an astute administrator within the organisation.

However, he is mindful of the problems relating to there being two Leinster candidates and the potential to split the vote in the province.

In a new departure, the GAA presidency vote will be held on the opening night of Congress which this year takes place in the Mullingar Park Hotel.

Previously, it had been staged during the main Saturday proceedings.