Minister for Transport Martin Cullen topped the poll at the first count in Waterford and was elected to the first of four seats with a quota and 1,532 votes to spare.
Inevitably, the transfer of almost half of these votes to Fianna Fáil senator Brendan Kenneally, who lost his seat at the last election, would prove crucial later on Friday evening.
After four counts, just 242 votes separated Kenneally from the man who took his seat in 2002, his Fianna Fáil colleague Ollie Wilkinson.
In count five, outgoing Labour TD Brian O'Shea was the main beneficiary of transfers from the Green Party's Brendan McCann. Fine Gael's John Deasy was leading the race for the second seat, however, and consolidated his position after the elimination of party colleague Jim D'Arcy.
Workers' Party candidate and Waterford City Cllr John Halligan was eliminated on the sixth count and the bulk of his transfers went to Sinn Féin's David Cullinane and O'Shea.
It was too late, however, for Cullinane who was eliminated at this stage.
With O'Shea gaining greatly from Cullinane's exit, the picture emerging in the race for the second, third and fourth seats was now becoming clearer.
Fine Gael's Paudie Coffey, a Waterford county councillor and first-time general election candidate, surprised many with his strong showing.
However, he was eliminated on count eight and his transfers pushed Deasy into the second seat. It was Deasy's transfers in turn that secured the third seat for O'Shea.
And Kenneally was then elected on the 11th count, while Ollie Wilkinson was eliminated. ...
Overall change: No change
Outgoing TDs
Martin Cullen FF
Ollie Wilkinson FF
John Deasy FG
Brian O'Shea Lab
