With just seven months to go to the election of a new GAA president, Liam O'Neill remains the only declared candidate in the race to succeed Christy Cooney.

O'Neill, who is a former Leinster Council chairman and is current chairman of the GAA's Coaching and Games Development Committee, lost out by 60 votes to Cooney in the last election in 2008. He immediately announced his intention to run again in 2011 and is now working towards becoming the first Laois president since Bob O'Keeffe in the 1930s.

Sheamus Howlin (Wexford), Conor Hogan (Tipperary) and Tom Daly (Donegal) are regarded as the other main contenders, but have yet to announce their intentions.

Leinster Council chairman Howlin told the Irish Independent: "Christy (Cooney) still isn't halfway through his term so I don't think it would be right to say anything about the presidency until he has presented the All-Ireland senior cups for the second time. Besides, I'm very busy with Leinster - but I will be stating my position in due course."

Voting will take place at the GAA Congress in the Mullingar Park Hotel next April, with the winner serving as president-elect for 12 months prior to taking over from Youghal man Cooney in 2012. Tweet

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