1 day Ago By Donal O'Regan
LIMERICK is set to re-elect six out of the seven sitting TDs if you believe the bookmakers. PaddyPower and BoyleSports think the same deputies will romp home in the county but not in the city. As of this Thursday, BoyleSports and PaddyPower continue to predict a battle royale for the fourth seat in Limerick City with Frankie Daly (Independent) at 8/13 or 4/7; Conor Sheehan (Labour) at even money and Dee Ryan (Fianna Fail) at 6/4.
They predict the first three home as Willie O'Dea (Fianna Fail) 1/14; Kieran O'Donnell (Fine Gael) 1/10 and Maurice Quinlivan (Sinn Fein) 1/8. In the last General Election, Deputy Brian Leddin (Green Party) confounded the bookies who had priced him up at the start at a whopping 33/1. It was quickly cut to 3/1.
A number of savvy political punters gobbled up the 33/1 and duly collected when he was elected for the Green Party. This time Mr Leddin is available at 14/1 and 16/1. A BoyleSports spokesperson said: “There is little support for Brian Leddin holding on, so he has been pushed out to 16/1 from 5/1.
” The spokesperson said in Limerick City it looks like a scramble for the fourth seat. Mr Sheehan (Labour) has been the “springer” in the market. “There has been plenty of support for Conor Sheehan (Labour), who has plummeted into even money from 16/1 over the past week to win a seat.
That’s quite a significant move so there is no foregone conclusion in this constituency,” said the spokesperson for BoyleSports. PaddyPower has also seen money for the Labour man with half of all the bets taken in the constituency being for Cllr Sheehan to be elected. However, the most amount of cold hard cash gambled is on the man with election form - Mr O’Dea.
BoyleSports’ betting in Limerick City is completed by Melanie Sheehan Cleary (Mid-West Hospital Campaign) 10/1; Mr Leddin, and Elisa O’Donovan (Social Democrats) both 16/1; Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) and Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) both 33/1; Esther Aherne (Independent Ireland) and Sarah Beasley (Aontú) both 50/1; Michelle Hayes (Independent) and Dean Lillis (Independent) both 100/1; Dean Quinn (The Irish People) and Ruairi Fahy (People Before Profit-Solidarity) both 200/1. READ MORE: Mayor of Limerick warns there's 'no silver bullet' to deliver his five-year plan Boyles think Limerick County is something of a fait accompli with the three sitting TDs hot favourites to head back to Leinster House - Patrick O’Donovan (Fine Gael) 1/50; Niall Collins (Fianna Fail) and Richard O’Donoghue (Independent Ireland) both 1/10. Next in the betting is Joanne Collins (Sinn Fein) 7/4; Bridie Collins (Fianna Fail) 13/2; Noreen Stokes (Fine Gael) 10/1; Michael Ryan (Aontu) 33/1; April Sheehan Corkery (Independent), Donna O’Loughlin (Irish Freedom Party), Jim Barrett (Independent), Laura Fahy, People Before Profit-Solidarity, Lorraine O’Sullivan (The Irish People), Richie Crehan (Independent), Rob O’Donnell (Green Party), all 100/1.
Rounding things off is Gerben Uunk (Party for Animal Welfare) at 200/1. A BoyleSports spokesperson said: “Betting in Limerick County isn’t as competitive with all three sitting TDs hot odds-on shots to return. Punters clearly aren’t anticipating any shocks here, although Michael Ryan has been cut into 33/1 from 100/1 following a handful of outside wagers.
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