Snap Reaction to the hustings

President: Dillon looks good value at this point. Conway impressed but didn't come close to outshining the other two. We'd rate Dillon as being nicely ahead of Gardiner at this stage, it's not completely gone from Gardiner's reach but he is the one with ground to make up. We'll post %s later.

Education: A real race though the two lads are probably bringing up the rear behind the two lassies. Will depend on transfers. Will be very tight. We'd rate Emma higher but transfers will be crucial.

CSO: Looks like Dempsey is very well placed to take it (perhaps even on the 1st count) though Lawlor has shown well and could if Dempsey makes a mess of the next 24 hours overhaul him on transfers. We wouldn't bet the house on him but we might wager a small car. A vintage corgi say.

Communications: A dead heat of a race if not perhaps a slight edge to Dolphin from the hustings. Seriously a prospective communications officer (Aoife) simply reading their speech which was pretty much their manifesto out from a sheet? Dolphin did better in terms of the hust but it is questionable how much benefit there was given the partisan nature of the audience. All to play for over the next 24 hours. Tooth and claw I suspect from here on in.