Opinion

Shane Coleman: Recent own goals leave Sinn Féin with it all to play for

The opposition’s stumbles have levelled the odds and given the coalition an opportunity to get back into the game

Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald applauds the room following her leader’s speech at the party’s Ard Fheis in Athlone last month. Picture: Getty

What’s going on with Sinn Féin? As with Man City’s struggles of late in the Premier League, it’s far too early for talk of crisis. But by the standards of the past four years, the party – like City – is going through a decidedly wobbly period.

A combination of being becalmed in the polls, getting drawn into unnecessary legal spats with the media, unprecedented rumours of discontent among TDs, and poor judgement on key ...