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Tailteann Cup
Current season or competition:
2024 Tailteann Cup
IrishCorn Tailteann
Code Gaelic football
Founded 2022
Region Ireland ( GAA)
No. of teams17
Title holders Meath (1st title)
First winner Westmeath
Most titles Westmeath, Meath (1 titles)
TV partner(s) RTÉ
Official website www.gaa.ie

The Tailteann Cup is a second tier Gaelic football championship competition held annually since 2022 and organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). It is contested by those county teams who do not qualify for the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and the winner is awarded the Tailteann Cup.

The name 'Tailteann' comes from the ancient Tailteann Games.

The title has been won by 2 different counties, none of whom have won the title more than once. The all-time record-holders are Meath and Westmeath, who have won the cup on 1 occasion each. Meath are the title holders, defeating Down by 2-13 to 0-14 in the 2023 final.

History

Creation

For the history of the second-tier competition that existed before 2022, see Tommy Murphy Cup.

Following ongoing one-sided matches in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship between counties of differing standards, the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) began considering the addition of a tournament for so-called weaker counties who were usually eliminated in the early stages of their respective provincial championship. At a national conference in November 2018, the GAA found broad support for the introduction of a second-tier championship and canvassed options for its potential structure and future inclusion within the annual calendar. [1] One year later at a specially convened congress, 76% of delegates formally approved of the second-tier tournament. [2] The tournament was named the Tailteann Cup in February 2020 and it was intended it would hold its inaugural season that year, [3] though its introduction was ultimately delayed until 2022 due the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games over that period.

Second and third-tier competitions have been incorporated in hurling for several years, such as the Christy Ring Cup and Nicky Rackard Cup.

Development

In 2023 a group stage was introduced, following the success of the inaugural cup.

Team changes

19 county teams have participated in at least one edition of the Tailteann Cup. Fifteen have been ever-presents. in 2023, Limerick and Meath became the most recent counties to make their debut in the Cup

Format history

2022

The first Tailteann Cup was a knockout tournament whereby once a team was defeated they were eliminated from the championship. The pairings were drawn by location. Each match was played as a single leg.

2023–present

The Tailteann Cup has since emulated the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship format which includes a group stage and a knockout stage.

Tailteann Cup moments

  • Westmeath 2-14 - 1-13 Cavan (1 July 2022): Westmeath won the inaugural Tailteann Cup, defeating Cavan in Croke Park.
  • Down 8-16 - 2-12 Laois (25 June 2023): This semi-final meeting was the biggest ever Tailteann Cup winning margin in the cups history.

Format

Up to 17 teams compete in the cup. The teams are drawn from the bottom 16 rankings from that season's National Football League, plus New York. However, if a team in this position qualifies for the final of its provincial championship, that team continues to compete in the same year's All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and does not compete in the Tailteann Cup. [4]

The teams that compete in the Tailteann Cup are split into four round-robin groups, and the top two teams from each group proceed to one of four knockout quarter-finals matches, followed by semi-finals and the final. [4] [5] The Winners of the four Quarter Final pairings qualify for the semi-finals, with pairings decided via an open draw. The final of the Tailteann Cup is currently scheduled three weeks before the All-Ireland Football Final, and is staged at Croke Park in Dublin. [6]

For the inaugural 2022 Tailteann Cup, the format was altered to a straight-knockout competition with Round 1 and the Quarter Finals organised on a geographical basis with Northern and Southern Sections. From 2023 onwards, there are scheduled to be no North/South sections. [7]

Unlike the contest for the Sam Maguire Cup, London and New York are permitted to meet each other in the contest for the Tailteann Cup.

Tailteann Cup group stage

Group stage (Sixteen teams remaining)edit

Group stage (24 matches): The 16 counties who did not qualify for the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship group stage make up the group stage teams. Teams are divided into four groups of four. The group winners advance to the quarter-finals and the group runners-up and 3 out of 4 group third placed teams advance to the preliminary quarter-finals. Five teams are eliminated at this stage while twelve teams advance to the All-Ireland knockout-stage

Tailteann Cup knockout stage

Preliminary quarter-finals (12 teams remaining)

Preliminary quarter-finals (4 matches): The second-placed teams from the group stage play the 3 best third-placed teams from the group stage and New York. Teams who met in the provincial finals are kept apart in separate preliminary quarter-finals. Four teams are eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the quarter-finals.

Quarter-finals (Eight teams remaining)

Quarter-finals (4 matches): The winners of the preliminary quarter-finals join the first placed teams in the group stage. Teams who met in the provincial finals are kept apart in separate quarter-finals. Four teams are eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the semi-finals.

Semi-finals (Four teams remaining)

Semi-finals (2 matches): The winners of the quarter-finals make up the semi-final pairings. Teams who met in the provincial finals are kept apart in separate semi-finals. Two teams are eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the final.

Final

Final (1 match): The two winners of the semi-finals contest this game. Winning team are declared Tailteann Cup champions.

Teams

2024 Teams

Pot 1

  • Fermanagh

Pot 1 or All-Ireland SFC

  • Cork
  • Down
  • Kildare
  • Louth
  • Westmeath

Pot 1 or 2

  • Sligo

Pot 2 or All-Ireland SFC

  • Offaly

Pot 2

  • Antrim
  • Laois
  • Leitrim

Pot 3

  • Limerick
  • Longford
  • Wexford
  • Wicklow

Pot 4

  • Carlow
  • London
  • Tipperary
  • Waterford

Preliminary quarter-final pot

  • New York

List of Tailteann Cup counties

The following teams have competed in the Tailteann Cup in at least one season.

County Total years First year Most recent year Cup Titles Last Cup Title Most recent finish Best Tailteann Cup finish
Antrim 3 2022 2024 0 — Semi-finals Semi-finals
Carlow 3 2022 2024 0 — Quarter-finals Quarter-finals
Cavan 2 2022 2023 0 — Quarter-finals Runners-up
Down 2 2022 2023 0 — Runners-up Runners-up
Fermanagh 3 2022 2024 0 — Preliminary quarter-finals Quarter-finals
Laois 3 2022 2024 0 — Semi-finals Semi-finals
Leitrim 3 2022 2024 0 — Group stage Quarter-finals
Limerick 2 2023 2024 0 — Quarter-finals Quarter-finals
London 3 2022 2024 0 — Group stage Group stage
Longford 3 2022 2024 0 — Preliminary quarter-finals Preliminary quarter-finals
Meath 1 2023 1 2023 Champions Champions
New York 3 2022 2024 0 — Preliminary quarter-finals Quarter-finals
Offaly 2 2022 2023 0 — Preliminary quarter-finals Semi-finals
Sligo 2 2022 2024 0 — Semi-finals Semi-finals
Tipperary 3 2022 2024 0 — Group stage Group stage
Waterford 3 2022 2024 0 — Group stage Group stage
Westmeath 1 2022 1 2022 Champions Champions
Wexford 3 2022 2024 0 — Quarter-finals Quarter-finals
Wicklow 3 2022 2024 0 — Group stage Group stage

Participation by province

Province No. County No. Years
Leinster 8 Carlow 3 2022, 2023, 2024
Laois 3 2022, 2023, 2024
Longford 3 2022, 2023, 2024
Offaly 2 2022, 2023
Wexford 3 2022, 2023, 2024
Wicklow 3 2022, 2023, 2024
Westmeath 1 2022
Meath 1 2023
Ulster 4 Antrim 3 2022, 2023, 2024
Cavan 2 2022, 2023
Down 2 2022, 2023
Fermanagh 3 2022, 2023, 2024
Munster 3 Tipperary 3 2022, 2023, 2024
Waterford 3 2022, 2023, 2024
Limerick 2 2023, 2024
Connacht 2 Leitrim 3 2022, 2023, 2024
Sligo 2 2022, 2024
Britain 1 London 3 2022, 2023, 2024
North America 1 New York 3 2022, 2023, 2024

Venues

Cup venues

Group stage, preliminary quarter-finals and quarter-finals

Fixtures in the three group stage rounds of the cup are played at the home ground of one of the two teams. Each team is guaranteed at least one home game.

Semi-finals and Final

The Tailteann Cup semi-finals and final are played at Croke Park.

2023 venues

County Location Province Stadium Capacity
Antrim Belfast Ulster Corrigan Park 3,700
Carlow Carlow Leinster Dr Cullen Park 21,000
Cavan Cavan Ulster Breffni Park 32,000
Down Newry Ulster Páirc Esler
Fermanagh Enniskillen Ulster Brewster Park 20,000
Laois Portlaoise Leinster O'Moore Park 27,000
Leitrim Carrick-on-Shannon Connacht Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada 9,331
Limerick Limerick Munster Gaelic Grounds
London South Ruislip Britain McGovern Park 3,000
Longford Longford Leinster Pearse Park 10,000
Meath Navan Leinster Páirc Tailteann
New York Bronx North America Gaelic Park 2,000
Offaly Tullamore Leinster O'Connor Park 20,000
Tipperary Thurles Munster Semple Stadium 45,690
Waterford Waterford Munster Fraher Field 15,000
Wexford Wexford Leinster Chadwicks Wexford Park 20,000
Wicklow Aughrim Leinster Aughrim County Ground 7,000

Managers

Winning managers

# Manager(s) Winning team(s) Titles(s) Winning years
1 Jack Cooney Westmeath 1 2022
Colm O'Rourke Meath 1 2023

List of Finals

Year Date Winners Runners-up Venue Winning captain(s) Winning Margin Referee
County Score County Score
2024
2023 15 July Meath 2-13 (19) Down 0-14 (14) Croke Park Donal Keogan 5 Noel Mooney ( Cavan)
2022 9 July Westmeath 2-14 (20) Cavan 1-13 (16) Croke Park Kevin Maguire 4 Barry Cassidy ( Derry)

Roll of honour

Performances by county

County Title(s) Runners-up Years won Years runner-up
Westmeath 1 0 2022 —
Meath 1 0 2023 —
Cavan 0 1 — 2022
Down 0 1 — 2023

Performances by province

Province Winners Runners-up Total
Leinster 2 0 2
Ulster 0 2 2

Team records and statistics

Main article: Tailteann Cup records and statistics

Team results

Legend

  • 1st – Champions
  • 2nd – Runners-up
  • 3rd – Semi-Final
  • PR/R1/GS/PQF/QF – Preliminary Round/Round 1/Group Stage/Preliminary Quarter-Final/Quarter-Final
  • AI – All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

For each year, the number of teams in each championship (in brackets) are shown.

Team 2022 (17) 2023 (17) Years
Antrim R1 SF 2
Carlow QF QF 2
Cavan 2nd QF 2
Down R1 2nd 2
Fermanagh QF PQF 2
Laois R1 SF 2
Leitrim QF GS 2
Limerick AI QF 1
London R1 GS 2
Longford R1 PQF 2
Meath AI 1st 1
New York QF PQF 2
Offaly SF PQF 2
Sligo SF AI 1
Tipperary R1 GS 2
Waterford PR GS 2
Westmeath 1st AI 1
Wexford PR QF 2
Wicklow R1 GS 2

Seasons in Tailteann Cup

The number of years that each county has played in the Tailteann Cup between 2022 and 2023. A total of 19 counties have competed in at least one season of the Tailteann Cup. 15 counties have participated in the most championships. The counties in bold participate in the 2023 Tailteann Cup.

Years Counties
2 Antrim, Carlow, Cavan, Down, Fermanagh, Laois, Leitrim, London, Longford, New York, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow
1 Limerick, Meath, Sligo, Westmeath

Debut of counties

Year Debutants Total
2022 Antrim, Carlow, Cavan, Down, Fermanagh, Laois, Leitrim, London, Longford, New York, Offaly, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow 17
2023 Limerick, Meath 2
Total 19

All time table

Legend

Colours
Currently competing in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
Currently competing in the Tailteann Cup

As of 15 July 2023 (After 2023 Cup).

# Team Pld W D L Points P.P.G.
1 Meath 6 6 0 0 12 2.000
= Cavan 8 6 0 2 12 1.500
3 Down 8 5 0 3 10 1.250
4 Offaly 8 4 1 3 9 1.125
5 Westmeath 4 4 0 0 8 2.000
= Antrim 6 4 0 2 8 1.333
= Carlow 7 4 0 3 8 1.143
8 Laois 7 2 2 3 6 0.857
9 Wexford 6 2 1 3 5 0.833
= Fermanagh 6 2 1 3 5 0.833
11 Sligo 3 2 0 1 4 1.333
= Limerick 4 2 0 2 4 1.000
= Wicklow 5 2 0 3 4 0.800
14 Tipperary 4 1 0 3 2 0.500
= Longford 5 1 0 4 2 0.400
= Leitrim 5 1 0 4 2 0.400
17 London 4 0 1 3 1 0.250
18 New York 2 0 0 2 0 0.000
= Waterford 4 0 0 4 0 0.000

By decade

The most successful team of each decade, judged by number of Tailteann Cup titles, is as follows:

Match records

Other records

Finishing positions

Unbeaten sides

Beaten sides

On one occasion a team was defeated twice but have remained in the knockout championship:

Final success rate

Only two counties have appeared in the final, being victorious on all occasions:

On the opposite end of the scale, only two counties has appeared in the final, losing on each occasion:

Consecutive participations

15 counties have the record number of consecutive participations in the Tailteann Cup, taking part in the all 2 seasons.

Winning other trophies

Although not an officially recognised achievement, no teams have ever achieved the distinction of winning the Tailteann Cup and their respective Division in the National Football League.

Biggest wins

Scoring Events

Successful defending

Defending champions are promoted and a number of teams survived the first year of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. These are:

Gaps

  • Longest gaps between successive cup titles:
    • 0 years: N/A
  • Longest gaps between successive Tailteann Cup final appearances:
    • 0 years: N/A
  • Longest gap between successive championship appearances
    • 0 years: N/A

Active gaps

Provinces

  • On 0 occasions has the Tailteann Cup final involved two teams from the same province.
  • The province providing the highest number of different winning teams is Leinster, with two:
  • Province success rates
    • Leinster 17% (2 out of 12 counties)
    • Connacht 0% (0 out of 5 counties)
    • Munster 0% (0 out of 6 counties)
    • Ulster 0% (0 out of 9 counties)

Longest undefeated run

The record for the longest unbeaten run stands at 6 games held by Meath ( 2023-).

Miscellaneous

Player records

Main article: Tailteann Cup records and statistics

Player of the year

Year Player County
2023 Mathew Costello Meath
2022 Ronan O'Toole Westmeath

Top scorer

Overall

Year Player County Tally Total Matches Average
2024
2023 Pat Havern Down 1–34 37 7 5.3
2022 John Heslin Westmeath 1–25 28 4 7.0

Final

Year Player County Tally Total Opposition
2024
2023 Jack O'Connor Meath 1–02 5 Down
2022 Ronan O'Toole Westmeath 0–05 5 Cavan

See also

References

  1. ^ "Second Tier Championship format to be discussed in January". gaa.ie. 24 November 2018.
  2. ^ Sean Moran (19 October 2019). "Tier 2 football championship gets green light at special congress". The Irish Times.
  3. ^ Kevin O'Brien (29 February 2020). "Tier 2 football championship to be called the Tailteann Cup". the42.ie.
  4. ^ a b "All-Ireland football championship to be revamped in 2023 as Green Proposal passes Congress". the42.ie. 26 February 2022.
  5. ^ "GAA publish Master Fixtures Schedule for 2022". gaa.ie. 21 December 2021.
  6. ^ "Tailteann Cup decider won't feature on All-Ireland undercard". RTE Sport. 22 December 2021.
  7. ^ Ciarán Murphy (10 March 2022). "Ciarán Murphy: Priorities unclear until the GAA gives the Tailteann Cup some love". The Irish Times.

External links

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