In the NUI Seanad elections last night, it soon became clear that it will turn out to be a close-run race between five candidates for the three seats.
As the tallies came in during the evening, although fluctuating with each bundle of ballots, the five front-runners out of the 16 candidates became evident and were taking a clear lead.
They were the three outgoing senators, Mr Feargal Quinn, Mr Joe O'Toole and Mr Brendan Ryan, as well as Ms Valerie Bresnihan and Ms Bernadine O'Sullivan. The surprise was how well Ms Bresnihan was doing. She is a social researcher and chairwoman of the Penal Reform Trust and it is the first time she has run for election.
Mr Quinn and Mr O'Toole have battled it out for top of the poll over the years and there was no change last night.
A great deal of interest was also focused on the two teachers, Mr O'Toole of the Irish National Teachers Organisation and Ms O'Sullivan of the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland. Their views are diametrically opposed with Ms O'Sullivan coming out militantly against benchmarking.
Mr Ryan and Ms Bresnihan were neck and neck for third place.
However, the top five were so close that today's transfers will be the deciding factor.
Last night candidates were predictably optimistic. Mr Quinn said he was a born optimist. He was delighted to see Mr O'Toole and himself doing so well. Mr O'Toole said he was happy with the way things were going.
"It is a good indication, I think, of how things will go," he said.
Mr Ryan, a lecturer, acknowledged that at that point it looked like he and Ms Bresnihan were fighting for the third seat. He said he was pleased for her as he agreed with what she stood for.
Ms Bresnihan said she had worked hard on her campaign. However, she was less optimistic about the outcome. "I am not sure if I will get the transfers," she commented.
While tallies for Mr O'Toole put Ms O'Sullivan in fifth place, the tallymen for the former ASTI president put the figures somewhat higher.
Last night Ms O'Sullivan said she was happy as her main target was to get the issues into the public domain. These concerned public services and education. "I am delighted with the way the campaign has gone," she commented.
Counting of the ballots will continue at the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin this morning.