The Roscommon/Galway tally is complete – and it’s odds-on that two out of three candidates to be elected will be from Galway.

Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice, spokesperson for Agriculture for the Independent Ireland party, is likely to be elected on the first count, which is now expected to be announced no earlier than 7pm.

Sinn Féin’s Claire Kerrane is on course to take the second seat after polling as well as expected in this, her second election.

Outgoing Fianna Fáil Senator Eugene Murphy, who ran this election as an Independent, has publicly conceded at the Dr Hyde Centre that he will not be in the running for third seat. He said he will seek a nomination as an Independent to run for the Seanad.

At this stage it’s looking good for Ballygar GP Martin Daly if he secures the expected transfers. Fine Gael’s Aisling Dolan, who stood in for the late Cllr John Naughten on the ticket, has a very outside chance of nabbing Denis Naughten’s seat following his retirement.

But given that Daly, a first-time contender, got 18% of the first preference votes – compared to 12% for Senator Dolan – he has a much greater chance of taking that third seat, despite the fact that he is from Galway and that this is overwhelmingly a Roscommon constituency making up over 80% of the voting population.

With the quota tipped to be 10,208 based on the tallies, it could take a long time to fill the second and third seats.

Beirne (NP):196

Corcoráin (AON):781

Daly (FF):7,252

Daly-Finn (FG):2,100

Dolan (FG):4,831

Fitzmaurice (II):11,847

Kerrane (SF):7,930

Mannion (PBP):807

Murphy (NP):4,231

O Connor (GP):432

Sweeney (TIP): 214

Caption: Counting continuing at the Hyde Centre in Roscommon. Pic: Gerry Stronge