Counting continues for the second day of the Irish general election

The leaders of Ireland’s three main political parties have all been re-elected to serve in the Dáil (Irish parliament).

So far, 60 of the 174 Dáil seats have been filled, with counting set to resume on Sunday morning.

Micheál Martin of Fianna Fáil, Simon Harris of Fine Gael, and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald have overcome their first hurdles in the Irish general election.

Now, they all face an even bigger challenge – trying to form the next government.

Labor Party leader Ivana Bacik was also re-elected.

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael worked together in the outgoing government, and after the first day of counting, they appear poised to return to government.

If they agree to do so, they may need the support of one of the smaller parties or a number of independent TDs expected to be elected as the counting of votes continues on Sunday.

Sinn Féin says it also wants to be in the next government, and the party is ready to talk to other parties and independents.

But, based on current forecasts, the scale of the challenge facing Sinn Féin is enormous.

Political pundits are currently predicting that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael could get more than 80 seats combined – within touching distance of the golden ratio of 88 TDs needed for a majority in the Dáil.

The same experts believe that Sinn Féin can secure around 40 seats.

But even if it achieves that, it will still fall far short of what is needed for a Dáil majority.

If so, Sinn Féin will have to look to smaller and independent parties.

However, smaller teams are expected to have one count when all their TDs are confirmed.

If it turns to independents, it will find a very different set of TDs.

Finding common cause in such a situation will be another major challenge for the team.

To complicate matters, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have insisted they are not interested in sharing power with Sinn Féin due to fundamental policy differences on a number of issues.

Analysis – BBC News NI political editor Enda McClafferty

The race to the state has not yet reached the hall but the final result is beginning to be seen.

Fianna Fáil is about to finish as the main party, Fine Gael’s favorite to fill the runners-up just ahead of Sinn Féin.

If that order remains after the last count, it will reverse exit poll forecast which had Sinn Féin in front and Fianna Fáil in third place.

If Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael end up with a combined total of 80 seats, they may look to the Labor Party or independent TDs to strengthen the government.

Sinn Féin is still talking about the prospect of leading a left-leaning coalition but it will be difficult to get the numbers needed in the current forecast.

Despite what McDonald described as his team’s “amazing” performance, he could find himself back on the opposition bench.

All this means that Sinn Féin may have to create a sensational political class if it is to enter government in the Irish Republic for the first time.

Speaking on BBC NI’s Sunday Politics programme, former Fianna Fáil government adviser Derek Mooney said it was “impossible” for Sinn Féin to be in government.

“It looks like three out of 10 people who voted Sinn Féin in 2020 haven’t voted Sinn Féin this time,” he said.

However, Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald said “there will be talks to enter government”.

“It won’t be specific to any team,” he added.

One thing Sinn Féin and all parties will have is time.

There is widespread belief that talks to form a new government could go beyond Christmas and into the New Year.

On Saturday, party leaders McDonald and Michelle O’Neill were delighted as they joined their Sinn Féin supporters at the RDS in Dublin.

They are apparently extremely satisfied with the number of seats Sinn Féin is expected to win.

As things stand, very few political analysts expect Sinn Féin’s euphoria to continue on the other side of the government talks.