Cooney to succeed Brennan

CORK'S CHRISTY Cooney will succeed Nickey Brennan as the GAA's president in 12 months' time.

Both of his opponents, Seán Fogarty and Liam O'Neill, paid tribute to the president-elect, who gave an emotional speech about his family background in the association when growing up in Youghal and the influence of the late Con Murphy, the previous Corkman to hold the highest office in the GAA, who passed away nearly a year ago and whom he described as "a serious mentor and strong adviser".

The count took a while to conclude and that was a nervous time for the candidates, especially Cooney who had been beaten narrowly in the 2005 contest.

Speaking afterwards he compared the experiences: "I don't know what made the difference. I suppose I got more votes. The vote in 2005 was very close and some said that it was an advantage to have been over the course. You can never be sure.

"The half-hour of the count was bloody nerve-racking, wondering are they on the first count, the second, is it tight?"

As protocol dictates, the president-elect will be keeping a low profile during the coming 12 months.

"I see myself working with Nickey and Páraic (Duffy) and the management committee and not dealing with policy matters at all."

Fogarty was obviously disappointed with his low poll although observers believed that previously committed votes had switched late in the day when it became obvious that the Tipperary man wouldn't win the election. He said he wouldn't be contesting the election again.

O'Neill, however, made a considered speech, advertising his availability for projects, as with his term as Leinster chair and on management committee now concluded he is, for the first time in 30 years, without an official role in the association.

He, however, indicated that he probably would run again in three years.