Pat the Cope Gallagher topped the poll in 2002 with 7,740 first preference votes followed by Mary Coughlan just five hundred votes behind.

This time it was his running mate who took pole position as the duo have successfully fought their fourth election together. Minister Gallagher polled 9,606 first preference votes after a sluggish start in the Donegal Electoral Area.

A recent poll suggested that the Cope would struggle to fill the third seat, however, the issue was never in doubt.

"I was quietly confident all along," Minister Gallagher said.

"This was the most extensive, comprehensive and in-depth campaign I have ever been involved in since I was firs elected in 1981".

He added that he knew from the reception he was getting on the door step that he would "get in".

"I was amazed, surprised and delighted to have secured so many first preference votes coming out of west Donegal with a pack of six candidates".

He even suggested that himself and Minister Coughlan had secured on of the highest percentages of votes in the country.

Minister Gallagher only secured 900 votes when the first boxes were opened from the Donegal Electoral Area in the morning.

"I heard someone on one of the national radio stations that I couldn't possibly get elected with 900 votes. They did not even see that there were other boxes to open. I was not concerned at any stage. I knew I would make up the ground in West Donegal and my old hunting ground in the Finn Valley," he said.

He also referred to the posters that he erected around Croke Park before the league semi final between Donegal and Kildare.

"The posters read 'Pat the Cope for Donegal and Donegal for the league'. I have delivered and I have no doubt that the celebrations will continue when Donegal beat Armagh on Sunday," he concluded.