Sinn Fein’s Gary Doherty has been eliminated on the seventh count at the Donegal count.
The Twin Towns man finally admitted defeat after a recheck of the votes where he was narrowly beaten by Independent Dessie Shiels.
After a long debate involving party representatives and count officials, returning officer Geraldine O’Connor said the count will continue with the eight count.
Sinn Fein has hoped to keep Gary Doherty in the count as long as possible in a bid to make his votes transfer to Padraig MacLochlainn.
However there could yet be a sting in the tail of this count.
Sources have already indicated that Sinn Fein have reserved the right to a possible recount at the end of the overall count.
However one told Donegal Daily “We will not to do it simply for the sake of it but will review matters as we go along.”
At present counting is about to start on the eight count which will take into account Gary Doherty’s 4,456 votes.