Clare's Noel Walsh has withdrawn from this weekend's election for the GAA presidency after admitting he never seriously intended to run for it in the first place. Walsh, one of the Association's two trustees, finished third three years ago and his decision will come as a serious boost to fellow Munster man Sean Kelly's hopes of succeeding Sean McCague in the GAA hot seat.
Speaking in Tuesday's Irish Examiner, Walsh revealed: "I never considered myself a serious candidate. That's why people were saying on the ground that I wasn't doing well. I never asked anyone to vote for me, so how could I do well?"
Walsh also revealed his decision was influenced was by his desire not to split the province's vote with Sean Kelly of Kerry, his successor as Chairman of the Munster Council. The Clare man points out that Kelly withdrew his application in similar circumstances the last time, and he feels he must reciprocate. He added: "If the two of us stood, then very probably neither of us would have a chance. What I did was to reciprocate the gesture he made to me. It will improve his chances of being elected."
Filed by Shane Murray
