The IFA presidential debate in Meath was addressed by former IFA President Tom Clinton.

He addressed the packed room in Navan and started by describing Eddie Downey as “a bit unlucky”.

“All men make mistakes and they never did anything if they didn’t make a mistake and Eddie slightly falls into that bracket.”

He went on to say that the IFA presidential candidates claimed to do 100 things in a year, but they must concentrate on what they think you can get.

“You all said you would be guided by Council, but you will be guiding Council. If you go in with 10 items on the agenda and don’t lead the discussion you will be there until 5am every morning.”

He also said there is a lot of talk about how far the IFA should go back and what you should do. But he told the three candidates that the role of the next President is to look forward. “I want it over and done by June 30 this year and never referred to again, whatever is done about looking back.”

He called on the people in the room to recognise that the three men are putting themselves for a lonely job. “You will lie awake at four or five in the morning and wonder what way to go and lonely is the head who wears the crown. Because everyone is there to knock you down.”

Finally, he called on the entire membership of the IFA to do one thing.

“On this occasion I am going to ask for something – whichever of those three men are elected president, in the circumstances we are in, we have one job to do as members and that is support them, support them, support them unconditionally for the next two years.”

He quoted Michael Schumacher, who said people always have to go into a corner, but it’s the speed you come out of it that makes a good man.