Want to go Fifty-Fifty, Ask the Audience or even Phone-a-Friend? No need to. The answer is: they both stood at the last local elections for Fianna Fáil and both were defeated.

Now, as it happens, it is an entirely different Kevin Fennelly from the former Kilkenny All Ireland winner who recently had the good fortune (or was it?) to be appointed Dublin senior hurling manager. At the same time, Lawlor has an inter-county county hurling connection with the (real) Kevin Fennelly, having hurled for both Dublin and for Leinster in the Railway Cup. That was in the days, of course, before Liam started sporting those big, fawn crombie overcoats he seems so fond of. Great maybe for putting across the end of a bunk in a cell in Mountjoy, but not so good running out on to a pitch to smack a sliothar.

These days Lawlor is one of the few former inter-county GAA players strutting their stuff in the Dáil. Minister of State and Wexford TD Hugh Byrne (Fianna Fáil) played football for Wexford and hurled for Kildare (Figure that one out! And, indeed, could he tell the difference? ). Former Tánaiste and Labour leader Dick Spring played football and hurled for Kerry before he went on to play rugby for Ireland. Hopefully, he caught the ball a bit better in Gaelic football than he did when wearing the green jersey. Then there is the only current All Ireland winner in the Dáil, Kerryman Jimmy Deenihan of Fine Gael.

There are others who have reputations from administrative roles within the GAA. Dr Jim McDaid, currently Minister for Sport, Recreation, Saunas and Whatever Yer Havin’ Yourself, of Fianna Fáil, was Medical Officer to the Donegal team for a number of years. Jack Wall (who carries on the proud Labour tradition in South Kildare) has been chairman of the Kildare county board in his time. Ministers of State Noel Treacy (FF Galway) – the man from Gurteen, near Ballinasloe - and Joe Jacob (FF Wicklow) also had administrative roles in the GAA. Obviously a few years running a club or a county board stand to you when you get into government. Sure, after running most GAA clubs, being a Minister of State would be a doddle. Donal Carey (FG Clare) is a former Clare county board member and he is fondly remembered for his passionate budget speech against VAT on hurleys in the early 80’s. Not content with putting VAT on children’s shoes and clothes, VAT on hurleys was just the kind of looney proposal the good Herr Doktor Garret FitzGerald delighted in coming up with. Tipp has Defence Minister, Michael Smith (FF) and, of course there is Mister Refrigerated Semple Stadium himself, Michael Lowry (formerly of Fine Gael … now Independent … and maybe of Fine Gael again ?).

So there’s no shortage of former GAA administrators in the Dáil. Yet amazingly - considering top GAA players’ profiles - there are only four former inter-county players in the current Dáil. Twenty years ago there were four All Ireland winners in the Dáil. The late great Jack Lynch(FF) in Cork, as well as footballing legends the late John Donnellan (FG) of Galway and John Wilson (FF) of Cavan. There was also the late Bill Loughnane (FF) in Clare who won an All Ireland medal while hurling for Dublin. However, Bill’s interest in hurling was not sufficient to make him an admirer or supporter of Jack’s. Far from it ! He was well able to sink the hurley in Jack’s ribs when the time came to give the great Corkman the shove.

In Meath Colm Hilliard (FF) and Jim Fitzsimons (FF) were TDs who actually played on the same Meath team, but locals in the Royal county will tell you there was little teamwork between them and little love lost. In Dublin, D’Oul Finglas Lily Himself, Jim Tunney (FF,) played for the county footballers . In Donegal, the late Clem Coughlan (FF) enjoyed a career with their county footballers while in Tipp Seán McCarthy(FF) was on a losing All Ireland minor hurling team.

Of course, Michael Davitt was an MP and plenty more TDs have followed the path set by one of the early supporters of the GAA. Since the foundation of the state three GAA presidents - Dan O’Rourke, Seán McCarthy and Dan McCarthy - have been TDs. Indeed, Dan McCarthy combined his duties as a Junior Minister in the State’s first government with being GAA President.

Now, a political career is not everyone’s cup of tea, especially in the current cynical climate. Twenty years ago being an inter-county player didn’t entail such an intensive training regime and players probably had more spare time than they do now. Yet every time there is an election a player or former player’s name will invariably be bandied about as a possible candidate. (John O’Leary and Kevin Moran are two names regularly mentioned in Dublin, Colm O’Rourke in Meath.)

So which of today’s heroes would be suitable and - more importantly – who would be elected? Firstly, there are a number of two-county constituencies, the likes of Carlow-Kilkenny, Cavan- Monaghan, Longford- Roscommon, Laois- Offaly and Sligo-Leitrim. The chances of a GAA player being elected here are lower, because traditionally votes don’t cross county boundaries and - if they do - the footballers or hurlers will be the last to get them.

Secondly, being a member of an All Ireland winning team in a county that has not has success in years is a help. Think of Anthony Molloy, Tony Boyle and Martin Shovlin in Donegal. Then there is Anthony Daly, Jamsie O'Connor and Liam Doyle in Clare. Not forgetting the Bold Billy Byrne, Ger Cushe and Tom Dempsey in Wexford. All solid types, not lads that go missing in games, nor ones who would encourage debate as to their selection in county teams. It’s also handy for the breakthrough to come at the end of a career of heartbreak. Billy Byrne or Anthony Molloy will be remembered for what they did at the end rather than the start of their career, their reputations unblemished.

Of course, the men who lead teams from trophyless wastelands are also good possibilities. God knows had Ger Loughnane stood for election in October 1995, he would have topped the poll, and even Síle Dev herself might have been in trouble. Of current GAA managerial figures, Seán Boylan comes from a strong Free State and Fine Gael tradition. Liam Griffin and John O'Mahony are names that also spring to mind. Certainly, Liam talks often enough like a politician.

Circumstances also can lend a hand. For instance, in Jimmy Deenihan’s Kerry North he is a Listowel-based candidate. The Spring, Foley and McEllistrim political dynasties are all based around Tralee. So not alone had Jimmy the name but he also had a clear geographical area to use it in. Success being fresh in the mind of voters may also be a help. Of this year’s winners Willie O'Connor and Séamus Moynihan stand out as possibilities. Put Moynihan up in South Kerry and it could well be bye bye to Jackie Healy Rae or indeed to John ‘Speedy’ O'Donoghue. In Kilkenny, well, Willie could see off the lot of them (although this constituency is complicated by the Ceann Comhairle Séamus Pattison being automatically returned).

An Maor will wait and see if any of them will be turning up for their seats in the Ard Chomhairle area in years to come… And, of course, whenever Mrs. McAleese decides to call it a day, there’ll be no stopping the ‘DJ For President’ bandwagon!