As a contest, the tussle between novice senator Kelly and juice bar owner Spring was hardly going to set pulses racing, writes Miriam Lord.
WAS IT a clever exercise in brand building or merely a lucky bounce from the onset of the silly season? Courtesy of a little controversy, engineered or otherwise, the Labour Party has managed to take a pair of political nobodies and turn them into Known Unknowns in the space of a week.
The voters of Munster mightn't have the foggiest idea what Alan Kelly and Arthur Spring are about, but at least they now recognise the names. In any political book, that counts as a result.
The European elections are a long 11 months away, but the party stole a much-needed march on its rivals at the weekend by garnering maximum attention for their selection convention in Cork.
As a contest, the tussle between novice senator Kelly and juice bar owner Spring was hardly going to set pulses racing: it was the background to the proceedings that gave this run-of-the-mill event extra spice.
In advance, there were mutterings of procedural skulduggery, splits, rows, old loyalties resurfacing and old scores being settled.
Not to mention the restoration of the monarchy in Kerry.
It made the weekend prospect of some aristocratic Labour blood on the carpet far too tasty to resist.
Arthur J Spring is hoping to follow in the footsteps of the former tánaiste and leader of the Labour Party - a man once known to the populace as Groucho, but known to young AJ as Uncle Dick.
He is only starting his political career, but with the patrician Dick putting himself about on his nephew's behalf, word is that the family has decided the time has come for the re-emergence of The Spring Dynasty.
Meanwhile, Alan Kelly has built a base for himself in Tipperary, and the signals from the village of Portroe are that a new force might be emerging to challenge the established order. Kelly, like his colleague Spring, also has formidable support in his corner.
His family may be steeped in the Labour tradition, but his influential brother Declan is making millions in New York and beyond with his Financial Dynamics company.
On Saturday in the Silver Springs hotel, the evidence of a US style approach to campaigning could be seen in the T-shirts worn by Kelly's supporters, the lapel stickers, the posters and the large quantities of customised biros strewn about the place.
Returning officer Richard Humphries - the party's legal advisor - instructed the Kelly camp to remove their material from the hall before the convention began. They weren't happy, but they complied. To balance matters, men from the Labour branch in Rock Street, Tralee were told they couldn't unfurl their banner.
Ballot boxes and count staff waited upstairs for voting to begin. All delegates were requested to bring identification, another source of annoyance to long time party stalwarts.
However, given that the preceding days were marked by an argument over the re-admittance to the party of over 200 lapsed members from Spring's Kerry stronghold, headquarters were taking no chances.
Among the lapsed returning to the fold was Dick Spring, who somehow managed to scrape together the €20 subscription from his many emoluments. He bustled about the place with that familiar stoop of his, like a proud dowager watching The Boy make his way in the world.
Party leader Eamon Gilmore added more gravitas to the occasion. He made a speech and then absented himself from the room.
The Silver Springs hotel has hosted its fair share of big political gatherings over the years, so perhaps management are more aware than most that these affairs can often descend into childish displays of sulking and petulance.
This would certainly explain the large decanters of orange and blackcurrant Miwadi on the top table. As it turned out, the squash perfectly reflected the mood of the occasion, which was, disappointingly, cordial.
Alan Kelly was first to speak. From a distance, he bears a disconcerting resemblance to Transport Minister, Noel Dempsey. He set out his Labour party credentials. It came as no surprise to learn that he is proud to be European, proud to be Irish and proud to be a Tipperary man.
Kelly stressed repeatedly that he is up for the fray. "I eat, sleep and drink the Labour Party!" He promised, if nominated, to run "the most professional campaign that you will ever see."
Arthur Spring also emphasised his family's credentials, and his undoubted Labour pedigree, in an address that was every bit as unremarkable as the one that went before.
Early on, he tried to explain why he went for the nomination. Arthur told the hall how the Spring family "had the franchise for the Labour Party for 60 years" and that they decided to give somebody else a turn. That somebody was Councillor Terry O'Brien, who was unsuccessful at the last election. So now, the Springs are back.
One can only hope the people of Kerry are suitably grateful.
The vote. Delegates lined up before tables indicating their various constituencies. The numbers at Kerry North and South indicated that the restoration of the monarchy wasn't going to happen just yet.
Meanwhile, Cork's Labour deputies, of whom there is a fair sprinkling, stood somewhat detached from it all.
The Cork view of this Kerry/Tipperary clash was best summed up by deputy Kathleen Lynch, who told of a delegate who cornered her with the question: "Well, which of dem is it going to be? De football or de hurlin'?" The result was delivered with admirable speed. Kelly triumphed with a large margin to spare.
Arthur Spring promised his full support. Graciously accepting defeat, he sighed "It's a tough task being a lone soldier in North Kerry and South Kerry."
It hasn't done Martin Ferris any harm.
And Alan promised to hit the ground running, which he probably will.
"I believe in long run-ins," he said. Spoken like a true Labour Party man, where some run-ins have gone on for decades.
As for the Springs, the long march to become Kerry's answer to the Coveneys continues. After Saturday's debut, Young Arthur should be well on the map come the next election.