Cooney in pole position for president's job

CORK OFFICIAL Christy Cooney is believed to be in pole position going into today's contest to elect the man who will lead the GAA from 2009 to 2012.

But events of three years ago, when Cooney was strong favourite only to be pipped by Kilkenny's Nickey Brennan, will mean the Youghal man will remain on tenterhooks until the result is announced at about 4pm today.

The three-way battle between Cooney, Liam O'Neill (Laois) and Seán Fogarty (Tipperary) is likely to command most interest at Congress, which opened yesterday in the Radisson Hotel, Ballincar, Co Sligo. Cooney's shock defeat three years ago may explain why he declined to comment to the media last night.

Strong claims continue to be made for former Leinster Council chairman O'Neill, whose campaign, according to sources, has gathered momentum in recent weeks. O'Neill said he was "getting a very positive feedback from delegates." He added: "Nobody can call it. A swing of five votes could make a big difference. Considering where I was at the start of this campaign, I'm very pleased with where I am now."

O'Neill said he didn't believe the recent controversy over the Government scheme to make expenses payments to inter-county players would have a last-minute impact on the voting.

"At this stage, most delegates have decided how they are going to vote," he added.

Three years ago, it was felt Cork's decision to vote against the opening of Croke Park to soccer and rugby cost Cooney precious votes in the final days before the election. On that occasion, the vote to open Croke Park went right down to the wire and influenced the mood of delegates whereas the Government payments proposal is a virtual certainty to succeed today. Therefore, it will not generate the kind of passions that might inspire delegates to change their voting intentions in the hours before polling.

Of the three candidates only unfancied Fogarty opposes the proposed payments to players. He is also a trenchant critic of the Gaelic Players Association.

Fogarty remains bullish about his chances and last night said he was in with a great chance of being elected if "even three-quarters of the votes I've been promised actually come through. I think I will get a good first count vote. The big issue for me is that there are two Munster candidates in the race, so the Munster vote is going to be split. But if I get enough in the first count, I will have a very good chance of winning," he added.

Apart from the election, it's expected to be a low-key Congress. The controversy over the Government payments scheme seems to have fizzled out, and the scheme will be passed without any great difficulty today. Mark Conway of the Of One Belief group, who lobbied against the proposals said: "In Ulster, we believe we have everyone supporting us, bar Cavan and Monaghan. We also understand Laois, Longford, and Louth will all be voting against the scheme. . . . But we're not fooling ourselves. The scheme appears to be a done deal."

The other big issue concerns the All-Ireland football qualifiers. A motion calling for Division Four teams to be given a chance in the football qualifiers, regardless of what stage they lose in their provincial championships, needs a two-thirds majority today to be successful.

Follow the GAA presidency battle at www.Ireland.com/sports