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Tailteann Cup

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.

Tailteann Cup
Current season or competition:
2024 Tailteann Cup
IrishCorn Tailteann
CodeGaelic football
Founded2022
RegionIreland (GAA)
No. of teams17
Title holders Meath (1st title)
First winner Westmeath
Most titles Westmeath, Meath (1 titles)
TV partner(s)RTÉ
Official websitewww.gaa.ie

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

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

Seventeen counties will compete in the 2024 Tailteann Cup:

CountyLast Cup TitleLast Provincial TitleLast All-Ireland TitlePosition in 2023 Championship
Antrim—1951—
Carlow—1944—
Down—19941994
Fermanagh———
Kildare—20001928
Laois—2003—
Leitrim—1994—
Limerick—18961896
London———
Longford—1968—
New York———
Offaly—19971982
Sligo—2007—
Tipperary—20201920
Waterford—1898—
Wexford—19451918
Wicklow———

List of Tailteann Cup counties

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

CountyTotal yearsFirst yearMost recent yearCup TitlesLast Cup TitleMost recent finishBest Tailteann Cup finish
Antrim3202220240—Semi-finalsSemi-finals
Carlow3202220240—Group stageQuarter-finals
Cavan2202220230—Quarter-finalsRunners-up
Down3202220240—Runners-upRunners-up
Fermanagh3202220240—Preliminary quarter-finalsQuarter-finals
Kildare120240—N/AN/A
Laois3202220240—Semi-finalsSemi-finals
Leitrim3202220240—Preliminary quarter-finalsQuarter-finals
Limerick2202320240—Quarter-finalsQuarter-finals
London3202220240—Preliminary quarter-finalsPreliminary quarter-finals
Longford3202220240—Group stagePreliminary quarter-finals
Meath1202312023ChampionsChampions
New York3202220240—Preliminary quarter-finalsQuarter-finals
Offaly3202220240—Group stageSemi-finals
Sligo2202220240—Semi-finalsSemi-finals
Tipperary3202220240—Preliminary quarter-finalsPreliminary quarter-finals
Waterford3202220240—Group stageGroup stage
Westmeath1202212022ChampionsChampions
Wexford3202220240—Group stageQuarter-finals
Wicklow3202220240—Group stageGroup stage

Participation by province

ProvinceNo.CountyNo.Years
Leinster9Carlow32022, 2023, 2024
Kildare12024
Laois32022, 2023, 2024
Longford32022, 2023, 2024
Offaly32022, 2023, 2024
Wexford32022, 2023, 2024
Wicklow32022, 2023, 2024
Westmeath12022
Meath12023
Ulster4Antrim32022, 2023, 2024
Cavan22022, 2023
Down32022, 2023, 2024
Fermanagh32022, 2023, 2024
Munster3Tipperary32022, 2023, 2024
Waterford32022, 2023, 2024
Limerick22023, 2024
Connacht2Leitrim32022, 2023, 2024
Sligo22022, 2024
Britain1London32022, 2023, 2024
North America1New York32022, 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

CountyLocationProvinceStadiumCapacity
AntrimBelfastUlsterCorrigan Park3,700
CarlowCarlowLeinsterDr Cullen Park21,000
CavanCavanUlsterBreffni Park32,000
DownNewryUlsterPáirc Esler
FermanaghEnniskillenUlsterBrewster Park20,000
LaoisPortlaoiseLeinsterO'Moore Park27,000
LeitrimCarrick-on-ShannonConnachtPáirc Seán Mac Diarmada9,331
LimerickLimerickMunsterGaelic Grounds
LondonSouth RuislipBritainMcGovern Park3,000
LongfordLongfordLeinsterPearse Park10,000
MeathNavanLeinsterPáirc Tailteann
New YorkBronxNorth AmericaGaelic Park2,000
OffalyTullamoreLeinsterO'Connor Park20,000
TipperaryThurlesMunsterSemple Stadium45,690
WaterfordWaterfordMunsterFraher Field15,000
WexfordWexfordLeinsterChadwicks Wexford Park20,000
WicklowAughrimLeinsterAughrim County Ground7,000

Managers

Winning managers

#Manager(s)Winning team(s)Titles(s)Winning years
1 Jack CooneyWestmeath12022
Colm O'RourkeMeath12023

List of Finals

YearDateWinnersRunners-upVenueWinning captain(s)Winning MarginReferee
CountyScoreCountyScore
202413 JulyCroke Park
202315 JulyMeath2-13 (19)Down0-14 (14)Croke ParkDonal Keogan5Noel Mooney (Cavan)
20229 July Westmeath2-14 (20)Cavan1-13 (16)Croke ParkKevin Maguire4Barry Cassidy (Derry)

Roll of honour

Performances by county

CountyTitle(s)Runners-upYears wonYears runner-up
Westmeath102022—
Meath102023—
Cavan01—2022
Down01—2023

Performances by province

ProvinceWinnersRunners-upTotal
Leinster202
Ulster022

Team records and statistics

Team results

Legend

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

Team2022 (17)2023 (17)2024 (17)Years
AntrimR1SF3
CarlowQFQFGS3
Cavan2ndQFAI2
DownR12nd3
FermanaghQFPQF3
KildareAIAI1
LaoisR1SF3
LeitrimQFGSPQF3
LimerickAIQF2
LondonR1GSPQF3
LongfordR1PQFGS3
MeathAI1stAI1
New YorkQFPQFPQF3
OffalySFPQFGS3
SligoSFAI2
TipperaryR1GSPQF3
WaterfordPRGSGS3
Westmeath1stAIAI1
WexfordPRQFGS3
WicklowR1GS3

Seasons in Tailteann Cup

The number of years that each county has played in the Tailteann Cup between 2022 and 2024. A total of 20 counties have competed in at least one season of the Tailteann Cup. 14 counties have participated in the most championships. The counties in bold participate in the 2024 Tailteann Cup.

YearsCounties
3Antrim, Carlow, Down, Fermanagh, Laois, Leitrim, London, Longford, New York, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow
2Cavan, Limerick, Sligo
1Kildare, Meath, Westmeath

Debut of counties

YearDebutantsTotal
2022 Antrim, Carlow, Cavan, Down, Fermanagh, Laois, Leitrim, London, Longford, New York, Offaly, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow17
2023 Limerick, Meath2
2024 Kildare1
Total20

All time table

Legend

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

After 2024 Preliminary Quarter-Finals.

#TeamPldWDLPointsP.P.G.
1 Down11803161.455
2 Antrim10712151.500
3 Meath6600122.000
= Cavan8602121.500
5 Fermanagh9513111.222
= Laois11434110.100
7 Limerick8503101.250
8 Sligo641191.500
= Carlow1041590.900
= Offaly1141690.818
11 Westmeath440082.000
= Wicklow940580.888
13 Kildare330062.000
= Leitrim930660.667
15 Wexford921650.555
16 Tipperary820640.500
17 London811630.375
18 Waterford710620.286
= Longford810720.250
20 New York300300.000

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 four occasions a team was defeated twice but have remained in the knockout championship:

  • Longford (2023) were beaten by Carlow and Limerick but still qualified for the knockout stage.
  • Tipperary (2024) were beaten by Sligo and Antrim but still qualified for the knockout stage.
  • Wicklow (2024) were beaten by Fermanagh and Laois but still qualified for the knockout stage.
  • London (2024) were beaten by Down and Limerick but still qualified for the knockout stage.

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

14 counties have the record number of consecutive participations in the Tailteann Cup, taking part in the all 3 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

Player of the year

YearPlayerCounty
2023 Mathew CostelloMeath
2022 Ronan O'TooleWestmeath

Top scorer

Overall

YearPlayerCountyTallyTotalMatchesAverage
2024
2023 Pat HavernDown1–343775.3
2022 John HeslinWestmeath1–252847.0

Final

YearPlayerCountyTallyTotalOpposition
2024
2023 Jack O'ConnorMeath1–025Down
2022 Ronan O'TooleWestmeath0–055Cavan

See also

References

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