Labor MP Noreen Hay has been preselected unopposed to the seat of Wollongong but her Shellharbour equivalent Lylea McMahon faces a three-way preselection battle.Mrs Hay was given a clear run to the state’s March election after two potential challengers bowed out in the lead-up to the close of nominations yesterday; University of Wollongong project manager Tania Brown on November 12 and BlueScope Steel engineer and Kembla Joggers president Neil Barnett earlier this week.The outcome has ‘‘humbled and honoured’’ Ms Hay, who has shrugged off suggestions she was on the nose with elements within the party or with Premier Kristina Keneally, who has called for ‘‘new blood’’ in the party. ‘‘Any suggestion that that referred to me didn’t come from the Premier or the Labor Party,’’ Ms Hay said.‘‘Obviously the branch members have displayed nothing but loyalty to me and I want to say a sincere thankyou for that.’’ A ballot of rank and file members will determine Ms McMahon’s future on December 11. Her challengers are Wollongong Hospital nurse John Rumble and unionist Anna Watson. FULL REPORT IN FRIDAY'S MERCURY