Bookies predict battle royale for final seat in Limerick constituency

LIMERICK is set to re-elect six out of the seven sitting TDs if you listen to the bookmakers.

PaddyPower and BoyleSports both think either Frankie Daly (Independent) or Dee Ryan (Fianna Fail) will claim the final seat in Limerick City.

Mr Daly is slightly favoured at 4/7 with Ms Ryan at 4/6.

Heading the betting in the four-seater is Deputy Willie O’Dea (Fianna Fail) at 1/14, followed by Minister of State Kieran O’Donnell (Fine Gael) at 1/6 and Deputy Maurice Quinlivan (Sinn Fein) at 1/4.

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 10/1. A BoyleSports spokesperson said: “There is little support for Brian Leddin holding on, so he has been pushed out to 10/1 from 5/1.”

“In Limerick City it looks like a scramble for the fourth seat,” said a BoyleSports spokesperson.

They say there’s now “only a whisker” between Frankie Daly and Dee Ryan.

Cllr Conor Sheehan (Labour) has been the “springer” in the market.

"There has been plenty of support for Conor Sheehan (Labour), who has plummeted into 9/4 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.

The betting in Limerick City is completed by Melanie Sheehan Cleary (Mid-West Hospital Campaign) 8/1; Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) and Elisa O’Donovan (Soical Democrats) both 12/1; Esther Ahern (Independent Ireland) 20/1;  Sarah Beasley (Aontú) 50/1 and Ruairi Fahy (People Before Profit-Solidarity) 100/1.

There are no prices listed for Senator Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein); Michelle Hayes (Independent); Dean Lillis (Independent); Dean Quinn (The Irish People).

READ MORE: CONFIRMED: 32 candidates put their names forward for election across two Limerick constituencies

The bookies think Limerick County is something of a fait accompli with the three sitting TDs hot favourites to head back to Leinster House - Minister Patrick O’Donovan (Fine Gael) 1/50; Minister of State Niall Collins (Fianna Fail) 1/10; Deputy Richard O’Donoghue (Independent Ireland) 1/8.

Next in the betting is Joanne Collins (Sinn Fein) 2/1; Cllr Noreen Stokes (Fine Gael) 7/1; Cllr Bridie Collins (Fianna Fail) 8/1; Michael Ryan (Aontu) 33/1; Donna O’Loughlin (Irish Freedom Party) 50/1; Rob O’Donnell (Green Party) 50/1; Laura Fahy, People Before Profit-Solidarity (100/1).

There are no prices for Jim Barrett (Independent); Richie Crehan (Independent); Lorraine O’Sullivan (The Irish People); April Sheehan Corkery (Independent); Gerben Uunk (Party for Animal Welfare).

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."

PaddyPower isn’t offering odds on Limerick County.

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