The growing speculation that former All-Ireland winning manager John O'Mahony will be selected to contest the next general election for Fine Gael is the latest example of how seamlessly GAA activity can lead to representative politics. Seán Moran reports.

The most recent candidate to tread the path that O'Mahony is eyeing up in Mayo is Tony Dempsey, who for a brief while after his election to the Dáil in 2002 actually combined the roles of Wexford hurling manager and local TD.

He says that being an intercounty manager was definitely an advantage when he contested the last general election.

"I think it's an important factor for two reasons. One, profile: if someone is recognisable they've a better chance of getting votes. Two: the skills required to be elected are by and large similar to managing an intercounty set-up.

"Dealing with players and canvas teams is also similar in that both groups aren't paid to perform at a very high level. More than any other groups, I believe GAA teams are a microcosm of Irish society. So they would be the reasons: profile and experience.

"The thing about John O'Mahony, from what I know about him, is that he's a hugely organised fella, and that's a major asset for fighting elections.

"You also have to operate in the heat of battle in both. I remember when we played Tipp in the 2001 All-Ireland semi-final, Larry O'Gorman was after getting a remarkable belt from John Carroll and people were shouting at me to take him off. But we left him on and he scored 2-1. Making decisions under pressure is common to both."

One aspect of that pressure is the need to move quickly when your personnel aren't performing to the required standard.

"Then you can have one of your canvas team who's no good and is rubbing up the public the wrong way. You have to get rid of them, and it's comparable to having to drop players."

The parallels between O'Mahony's proposed candidacy and Dempsey's are strong. Fianna Fáil were looking for an outstanding candidate to assist in picking up the third seat in a five-seat constituency. In the end, 40 per cent of the vote wasn't quite enough. Fine Gael are hoping O'Mahony will help them reach the same target in Mayo.

Although the party fell short of the intended goal, Dempsey was elected but at the expense of a sitting TD running-mate, a situation, he explains, that created its own tensions.

"Supporters can be fickle in both elections and championship. Go to Croke Park for a big match and everyone starts off rooting for you, but before long, that can become 'Look at him - he's costing us a Leinster title/seat'.

"I went in 2002 to get the third seat in Wexford. I got over 7,500 votes and the seat, but we narrowly came up short on winning the three. But then to some people I was 'There's the fella that took Hugh Byrne's seat'."

Dempsey has decided against staying in the Dáil and will step down at the next election. Asked if there was a downside to his GAA credentials, he remembers that for the brief period when he combined the two pursuits, it left him open on two fronts.

"You can't manage a team and be a politician. I remember after we ran Kilkenny close in the 2002 Leinster final, people saying, 'Ah Tony, it's a pity you wouldn't forget the Dáil and concentrate on the hurling'.

"Then, after the qualifier that followed in Portlaoise against Clare, I came out of the ground to see some fella there with a sign, saying 'Dempsey - stick to politics'."