It will pit him against Fianna Fáil senator Eugene Murphy in the selection convention, which is likely to be held later this month. 

He says he'd be interested if it's delayed until the new year, as Taoiseach Simon Harris is promising.

In July, he said he was considering standing down, less than a month after being re-elected in the local elections.

The ladies' side beat Tyrone in the All-Ireland Intermediate Final in Croke Park last month.

The sitting TD was the only name on the list after Councillor Martin Monaghan withdrew his name following his nomination.

Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin round out the top three.

The former Longford councillor and mayor was jailed yesterday for three years and three months for laundering over €2.6 million.