Tailteann Cup

{{Short description|Annual Gaelic football competition}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=March 2022}} {{Infobox GAA tournament | name = Tailteann Cup | image = | caption = | irish = Corn Tailteann | code = Gaelic football | founded = 2022 | abolished = | region = Ireland | trophy = | no. of teams = 17 | title holders = Kildare | currentordinal = 1 | super = | most titles = border|20x20px Westmeath, border|20x20px Meath, border|20x20px Down, border|20x20px Kildare | mostordinal = 1 | sponsors = | tv = RTÉ | motto = | website = {{URL|https://www.gaa.ie}} | currentlyrunning = 2026 Tailteann Cup |}} The '''Tailteann Cup''' is a Gaelic football competition held annually since 2022 and organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). It is contested by those county teams, which, in the given year, have not otherwise qualified 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 cup has been won by four different counties, none of whom have won the title more than once. As the prize for the winner is automatic entry to the following year's All-Ireland championship, it is not possible for a team to defend a title. The all-time record-holders are currently Down, Meath, Westmeath and Kildare, who have won the cup on one occasion each. Kildare are the current title holders, defeating Limerick by 1–24 to 2–19 in the 2025 final. Down are also the only team to appear in the final twice, finishing as runner-up in the 2023 final and champions in 2024.

==History== ===Creation=== {{For|the history of a similar competition that existed before 2022|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 those counties that were 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 this championship and canvassed options for its potential structure and future inclusion within the annual calendar.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gaa.ie/news-archive/news/second-tier-championship-format-to-be-discussed-in-january/|title=Second Tier Championship format to be discussed in January|work=gaa.ie|date=24 November 2018}}</ref> One year later at a specially convened congress, 76% of delegates formally approved of the second-tier tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/tier-2-football-championship-gets-green-light-at-special-congress-1.4056704|title=Tier 2 football championship gets green light at special congress|date=19 October 2019|author=Sean Moran|work=The Irish Times}}</ref> The tournament was named the Tailteann Cup in February 2020, and it was intended it would hold its inaugural season that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/tier-2-football-championship-name-tailteann-cup-5027289-Feb2020/|title=Tier 2 football championship to be called the Tailteann Cup|date=29 February 2020|author=Kevin O'Brien|work=the42.ie}}</ref> However, its introduction was ultimately delayed until 2022, due the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games over that period.

Alternative championship competitions, such as the Christy Ring Cup and Nicky Rackard Cup, had been incorporated into hurling for several years, later joined by the Joe McDonagh Cup from 2018 onwards.

===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.

====2023–2025==== The Tailteann Cup emulated the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship format which includes a group stage and a knockout stage.

====2026-==== Alongside the All-Ireland SFC, the Tailteann Cup moved to a double-elimination format from 2026 onwards.

===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 competition's history.

==Format== [[File:Talteinn Cup final.2024.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|Down (in red jerseys) take on Laois during the 2024 final]] 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.<ref name=hellojoe>{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/new-all-ireland-football-format-2023-green-proposal-congress-5694871-Feb2022/|title=All-Ireland football championship to be revamped in 2023 as Green Proposal passes Congress|work=the42.ie|date=26 February 2022}}</ref>

The teams that compete in the Tailteann Cup play a first round against each other, with winners and losers moving into two separate brackets afterwards, followed by semi-finals and the final.<ref name=hellojoe/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gaa.ie/news/gaa-publish-master-fixtures-schedule-for-2022/|title=GAA publish Master Fixtures Schedule for 2022|work=gaa.ie|date=21 December 2021}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2021/1221/1268040-no-tailteann-cup-final-on-all-ireland-undercard/|title=Tailteann Cup decider won't feature on All-Ireland undercard|date=22 December 2021|work=RTE Sport}}</ref>

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 to 2025, there are scheduled to be no North/South sections.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/ciar%C3%A1n-murphy-priorities-unclear-until-the-gaa-gives-the-tailteann-cup-some-love-1.4822301|title=Ciarán Murphy: Priorities unclear until the GAA gives the Tailteann Cup some love|author=Ciarán Murphy|work=The Irish Times|date=10 March 2022}}</ref>

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 knockout stage===

====Round 1 (16 teams remaining)==== The sixteen teams who did not qualify for the All-Ireland series are drawn at random into eight ties. The first team chosen receives home-field advantage.

====Round 2A (Eight teams)==== Winners of the Round 1 ties play each other in this round, with fixtures chosen by open draw and the first team chosen playing at home. Three winners progress to the quarter-finals and one team moves to the preliminary quarter-final.

====Round 2B (Eight teams)==== Losers of the Round 1 ties play each other in this round. Winners progress to Round 3 and losers are eliminated.

====Round 3 (Eight teams)==== Losers of Round 2A ties play winners of Round 2B ties in this round. Home advantage is determined by a separate draw from the draw for fixtures and rematches from Round One are avoided where possible. Winners progress to the quarter-finals and losers are eliminated.

====Preliminary quarter-final (Two teams)==== One Round 2A winner (selected at random) plays New York in this round. The Round 2A winner is guaranteed home advantage unless that team is London, in which case the game will be moved to a neutral site in Ireland.

====Quarter-finals (Eight teams remaining)==== Winners from Round 2A and the preliminary quarter-final are seeded and play a Round 3 winner, with rematches avoided where possible. Round 2A/PQF winners receive home advantage unless they are New York, who will play at a neutral site in Ireland should they advance.

====Semi-finals (Four teams remaining)==== The winners of the quarter-finals make up the semi-final pairings. Rematches from either provincial championships or earlier in the Tailteann Cup are avoided where possible. Games are played at neutral venues determined by the Competition Committee. Two teams are eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the final.

====Final==== The two winners of the semi-finals contest this game. Winning team are declared Tailteann Cup champions.

==Teams== ===2026 teams=== Seventeen teams compete in the 2026 Tailteann Cup. {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" !County !{{abbr|Tailteann|Last Tailteann Cup title}} !{{abbr|Provincial|Last Provincial Title}} !{{abbr|All-Ireland|Last All-Ireland Title}} !Position in 2025 !Appearance |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Antrim |— |1951 |— |{{Sort|12|Preliminary quarter-finals}} |5th |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Carlow |— |1944 |— |{{Sort|12|Preliminary quarter-finals}} |5th |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Clare |— |1992 |— |— |1st |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Down |2024 |1994 |1994 |— |4th |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Fermanagh |— |— |— |{{Sort|3|Semi-finals}} |5th |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Laois |— |2003 |— |{{Sort|12|Preliminary quarter-finals}} |5th |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Leitrim |— |1994 |— |{{Sort|13|Group stage}} |5th |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Limerick |— |1896 |1896 |{{Sort|2|Final}} |4th |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px London |— |— |— |{{Sort|13|Group stage}} |5th |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Longford |— |1968 |— |{{Sort|13|Group stage}} |5th |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px New York |— |— |— |{{Sort|12|Preliminary quarter-finals}} |5th |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Offaly |— |1997 |1982 |{{Sort|5|Quarter-finals}} |5th |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Sligo |— |2007 |— |{{Sort|5|Quarter-finals}} |4th |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Tipperary |— |2020 |1920 |{{Sort|13|Group stage}} |5th |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Waterford |— |1898 |— |{{Sort|13|Group stage}} |5th |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Wexford |— |1945 |1918 |{{Sort|5|Quarter-finals}} |5th |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Wicklow |— |— |— |{{Sort|3|Semi-finals}} |5th |}

==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=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" !County !Location !Province !Stadium !Capacity |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Antrim |Belfast |Ulster |Corrigan Park |3,700 |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Carlow |Carlow |Leinster |Dr Cullen Park |21,000 |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Cavan |Cavan |Ulster |Breffni Park |32,000 |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Down |Newry |Ulster |Páirc Esler | |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Fermanagh |Enniskillen |Ulster |Brewster Park |20,000 |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Laois |Portlaoise |Leinster |O'Moore Park |27,000 |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Leitrim |Carrick-on-Shannon |Connacht |Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada |9,331 |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Limerick |Limerick |Munster |Gaelic Grounds | |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px London |South Ruislip |Britain |McGovern Park |3,000 |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Longford |Longford |Leinster |Pearse Park |10,000 |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Meath |Navan |Leinster |Páirc Tailteann | |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px New York |Bronx |North America |Gaelic Park |2,000 |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Offaly |Tullamore |Leinster |O'Connor Park |20,000 |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Tipperary |Thurles |Munster |Semple Stadium |45,690 |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Waterford |Waterford |Munster |Fraher Field |15,000 |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Wexford |Wexford |Leinster |Chadwicks Wexford Park |20,000 |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Wicklow |Aughrim |Leinster |Aughrim County Ground |7,000 |- |}

==Managers== ===Winning managers=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" !# !Manager(s) !Winning team(s) !Titles(s) !Winning years |- | rowspan="4" |1 | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Jack Cooney |Westmeath |1 |2022 |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Colm O'Rourke |Meath |1 |2023 |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Conor Laverty |Down |1 |2024 |- | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Brian Flanagan |Kildare |1 |2025 |}

==List of finals== {| class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! rowspan="2" |Year ! rowspan="2" |Date ! colspan="2" |Winner ! colspan="2" |Runner-up ! rowspan="2" |Venue ! rowspan="2" |Winning captain(s) ! rowspan="2" |Winning margin ! rowspan="2" |Referee |- !County ! scope="col" |Score !County ! scope="col" |Score |-

|2022 |9 July |Westmeath | 2–14 (20) |Cavan | 1–13 (16) |Croke Park |Kevin Maguire |4 |Barry Cassidy (Derry) |-

|2023 |15 July |Meath |2–13 (19) |Down |0–14 (14) |Croke Park |Donal Keogan |5 |Noel Mooney (Cavan) |-

|2024 |13 July |Down |0–14 (14) |Laois |2–6 (12) |Croke Park |Pierce Laverty |2 |Brendan Griffin (Kerry) |-

|2025 |12 July |Kildare |1–24 (27) |Limerick |2–19 (25) |Croke Park | Kevin Feely |2 |Liam Devenney (Mayo) |-

==Roll of honour== ===Performances by county team=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" ! scope="col" |County team ! scope="col" |Title(s) ! scope="col" |Runner-up ! class="unsortable" scope="col" |Years won ! class="unsortable" scope="col" |Years runner-up |- ! scope="row" |border|20x20px Down | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 2024 | align="center" | 2023 |- ! scope="row" |border|20x20px Westmeath | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 2022 | align="center" | — |- ! scope="row" |border|20x20px Meath | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 2023 | align="center" | — |- ! scope="row" |border|20x20px Kildare | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 2025 | align="center" | — |- ! scope="row" |border|20x20px Cavan | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | — | align="center" | 2022 |- ! scope="row" |border|20x20px Laois | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | — | align="center" | 2024 |- ! scope="row" |border|20x20px Limerick | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | — | align="center" | 2025 |- |}

===Performances by province=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" ! scope="col" |Province ! scope="col" |Winner ! scope="col" |Runner-up |- ! scope="row" |border|20x20px Leinster | align="center" |3 | align="center" |1 |- ! scope="row" |border|20x20px Ulster | align="center" |1 | align="center" |2 |- ! scope="row" |border|20x20px Munster | align="center" |0 | align="center" |1 |- ! scope="row" |border|20x20px Connacht | align="center" |0 | align="center" |0 |- |}

==Team records and statistics== ===Team results=== ====Legend==== * {{bg|gold|1st}} – Champion * {{bg|silver|2nd}} – Runner-up * {{bg|#cc9966|SF}} – Semi-finalist * {{bg|#cceeee|PR/R{1/2}/GS/PQF/QF}} – Preliminary Round/Round {1/2}/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. {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" !Team !2022 (17) !2023 (17) !2024 (17) !2025 (17) !2026 (17) !Years |- | align="left" |border|20x20px Antrim | bgcolor="#cceeee" | R1 | bgcolor="#cc9966" | SF | bgcolor="#cc9966" | SF | bgcolor="#cceeee" | PQF | !5 |- | align="left" |border|20x20px Carlow | bgcolor="#cceeee" | QF | bgcolor="#cceeee" | QF | bgcolor="#cceeee" | GS | bgcolor="#cceeee" | PQF | bgcolor="#cceeee" | R2 !5 |- | align="left" |border|20x20px Cavan | bgcolor="silver" | 2nd | bgcolor="#cceeee" | QF |AI |AI |AI !2 |- | align="left" |border|20x20px Clare |AI |AI |AI |AI | bgcolor="#cceeee" | R2 !1 |- | align="left" |border|20x20px Down | bgcolor="#cceeee" | R1 | bgcolor="silver" | 2nd | bgcolor="gold" | 1st |AI | !4 |- | align="left" |border|20x20px Fermanagh | bgcolor="#cceeee" | QF | bgcolor="#cceeee" | PQF | bgcolor="#cceeee" | QF | bgcolor="#cc9966" | SF | !5 |- | align="left" |border|20x20px Kildare |AI |AI | bgcolor="#cceeee" | QF |bgcolor="gold" | 1st |AI !3 |- | align="left" |border|20x20px Laois | bgcolor="#cceeee" | R1 | bgcolor="#cc9966" | SF | bgcolor="silver" | 2nd | bgcolor="#cceeee" | PQF | !5 |- | align="left" |border|20x20px Leitrim | bgcolor="#cceeee" | QF | bgcolor="#cceeee" | GS | bgcolor="#cceeee" | PQF | bgcolor="#cceeee" | GS | !5 |- | align="left" |border|20x20px Limerick |AI | bgcolor="#cceeee" | QF | bgcolor="#cceeee" | QF | bgcolor="silver" | 2nd | bgcolor="#cceeee" | R2 !4 |- | align="left" |border|20x20px London | bgcolor="#cceeee" | R1 | bgcolor="#cceeee" | GS | bgcolor="#cceeee" | PQF | bgcolor="#cceeee" | GS | !5 |- | align="left" |border|20x20px Longford | bgcolor="#cceeee" | R1 | bgcolor="#cceeee" | PQF | bgcolor="#cceeee" | GS | bgcolor="#cceeee" | GS | !5 |- | align="left" |border|20x20px Meath |AI | bgcolor="gold" | 1st |AI |AI |AI !1 |- | align="left" |border|20x20px New York | bgcolor="#cceeee" | QF | bgcolor="#cceeee" | PQF | bgcolor="#cceeee" | PQF | bgcolor="#cceeee" | PQF | !5 |- | align="left" |border|20x20px Offaly | bgcolor="#cc9966" | SF | bgcolor="#cceeee" | PQF | bgcolor="#cceeee" | GS | bgcolor="#cceeee" | QF | !5 |- | align="left" |border|20x20px Sligo | bgcolor="#cc9966" | SF |AI | bgcolor="#cc9966" | SF | bgcolor="#cceeee" | QF | !4 |- | align="left" |border|20x20px Tipperary | bgcolor="#cceeee" | R1 | bgcolor="#cceeee" | GS | bgcolor="#cceeee" | PQF | bgcolor="#cceeee" | GS | !5 |- | align="left" |border|20x20px Waterford | bgcolor="#cceeee" | PR | bgcolor="#cceeee" | GS | bgcolor="#cceeee" | GS | bgcolor="#cceeee" | GS | bgcolor="#cceeee" | R2 !5 |- | align="left" |border|20x20px Westmeath | bgcolor="gold" | 1st |AI |AI | bgcolor="#cceeee" | QF |AI !2 |- | align="left" |border|20x20px Wexford | bgcolor="#cceeee" | PR | bgcolor="#cceeee" | QF | bgcolor="#cceeee" | GS | bgcolor="#cceeee" | QF | !5 |- | align="left" |border|20x20px Wicklow | bgcolor="#cceeee" | R1 | bgcolor="#cceeee" | GS | bgcolor="#cceeee" | QF | bgcolor="#cc9966" | SF | !5 |- |}

===Seasons in Tailteann Cup=== The number of years that each county team has played in the Tailteann Cup (between 2022 and 2025). A total of 21 county teams have competed in at least one season of the Tailteann Cup. The county teams in '''bold''' participated in the 2026 Tailteann Cup. {| class="wikitable" !Years !Counties |- |5 |'''Antrim''', '''Carlow''', '''Fermanagh''', '''Laois''', '''Leitrim''', '''London''', '''Longford''', '''New York''', '''Offaly''', '''Tipperary''', '''Waterford''', '''Wexford''', '''Wicklow''' |- |4 |'''Down''', '''Limerick''', '''Sligo''' |- |2 |Cavan, Kildare, Westmeath |- |1 |'''Clare''', Meath |- |}

===Debut of county teams=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" !Year !Debutants !Total |- |2022 | style="text-align:left" | border|20x20px Antrim, border|20x20px Carlow, border|20x20px Cavan, border|20x20px Down, border|20x20px Fermanagh, border|20x20px Laois, border|20x20px Leitrim, border|20x20px London, border|20x20px Longford, border|20x20px New York, border|20x20px Offaly, border|20x20px Sligo, border|20x20px Tipperary, border|20x20px Waterford, border|20x20px Westmeath, border|20x20px Wexford, border|20x20px Wicklow |17 |- |2023 | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Limerick, border|20x20px Meath |2 |- |2024 | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Kildare |1 |- |2025 | style="text-align:left" | ''No débutants'' |0 |- |2026 | style="text-align:left" |border|20x20px Clare |1 |- |'''Total''' | style="text-align:left" | |'''21''' |}

===All-time table=== '''Legend''' {| class="wikitable" ! width="150" |Colours |- style="background:#ccffcc" |Currently competing in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship |- style="background:#FFFFE0" |Currently competing in the Tailteann Cup |} ''After Round 2'' {| class="wikitable sortable"style="text-align:center" !# ! width="150" |Team ! width="50" |{{Tooltip|Pld|Games played}} ! width="50" |{{Tooltip|W|Wins}} ! width="50" |{{Tooltip|D|Draws}} ! width="50" |{{Tooltip|L|Losses}} ! width="50" |{{Tooltip|Points|Points}} ! width="50" |{{Tooltip|P.P.G.|Points per game}} |- style="background:#FFFFE0" | align="center" |1 | align="left" |border|20x20px Down | align="center" |16 | align="center" |12 | align="center" |0 | align="center" |4 | align="center" |'''24''' | align="center" |1.500

|- style="background:#FFFFE0" |= | align="left" |border|20x20px Laois | align="center" |20 | align="center" |10 | align="center" |3 | align="center" |7 | align="center" |'''23''' | align="center" |1.150

|- style="background:#FFFFE0" |4 | align="left" |border|20x20px Fermanagh |17 |10 |1 |6 |'''21''' | align="center" |1.235

|- style="background:#FFFFE0" |5 | align="left" |border|20x20px Limerick | align="center" |17 | align="center" |10 | align="center" |0 | align="center" |7 | align="center" |'''20''' | align="center" |1.176

|- style="background:#FFFFE0" |= | align="left" |border|20x20px Offaly | align="center" |18 | align="center" |9 | align="center" |1 | align="center" |8 | align="center" |'''19''' | align="center" |1.056

|- style="background:#ccffcc" |8 | align="left" |border|20x20px Kildare |10 |9 |0 |1 |'''18''' | align="center" |1.800

|- style="background:#FFFFE0" |9 | align="left" |border|20x20px Wicklow |17 |8 |0 |9 |'''16''' | align="center" |0.941

|- style="background:#ccffcc" |10 | align="left" |border|20x20px Westmeath | align="center" |9 | align="center" |7 | align="center" |0 | align="center" |2 | align="center" |'''14''' | align="center" |1.556

|- style="background:#FFFFE0" |= | align="left" |border|20x20px Carlow | align="center" |16 | align="center" |5 | align="center" |2 | align="center" |9 | align="center" |'''12''' | align="center" |0.750

|- style="background:#FFFFE0" |= | align="left" |border|20x20px Wexford |16 |5 |2 |9 |'''12''' | align="center" |0.750

|- style="background:#FFFFE0" |15 | align="left" |border|20x20px Leitrim |14 |5 |0 |9 |'''10''' | align="center" |0.714

|- style="background:#FFFFE0" |16 | align="left" |border|20x20px Tipperary |13 |3 |0 |10 |'''6''' | align="center" |0.462

|- style="background:#FFFFE0" |= | align="left" |border|20x20px Longford |13 |3 |0 |10 |'''6''' | align="center" |0.462

|- style="background:#FFFFE0" |18 | align="left" |border|20x20px London |13 |2 |1 |10 |'''5''' | align="center" |0.385

|- style="background:#FFFFE0" |19 | align="left" |border|20x20px Waterford |12 |1 |0 |11 |'''2''' | align="center" |0.167

|- style="background:#FFFFE0" |20 | align="left" |border|20x20px Clare | align="center" |2 | align="center" |0 | align="center" |0 | align="center" |2 | align="center" |'''0''' | align="center" |0.000

|- style="background:#FFFFE0" |= | align="left" |border|20x20px New York | align="center" |4 | align="center" |0 | align="center" |0 | align="center" |4 | align="center" |'''0''' | align="center" |0.000 |}

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

* '''2020s:''' 1 each for border|20x20px Westmeath (2022), border|20x20px Meath (2023), border|20x20px Down (2024) and border|20x20px Kildare (2025).

===Other records=== ====Finishing positions==== * Most championships ** 1, border|20x20px Westmeath (2022) ** 1, border|20x20px Meath (2023) ** 1, border|20x20px Down (2024) ** 1, border|20x20px Kildare (2025) * Most second-place finishes ** 1, border|20x20px Cavan (2022) ** 1, border|20x20px Down (2023) ** 1, border|20x20px Laois (2024) ** 1, border|20x20px Limerick (2025) * Most semi-final finishes ** 2, border|20x20px Sligo (2022, 2024) ** 2, border|20x20px Antrim (2023, 2024) * Most quarter-final finishes ** 2, border|20x20px Carlow (2022, 2023) ** 2, border|20x20px Fermanagh (2022, 2024) ** 2, border|20x20px Limerick (2023, 2024) ** 2, border|20x20px Wexford (2024, 2025) * Most preliminary quarter-final finishes ** 3, border|20x20px New York (2023, 2024), 2025) * Most group stage finishes ** 3, border|20x20px Waterford (2023, 2024, 2025)

====Unbeaten sides==== * Teams that have won the Tailteann Cup unbeaten: ** border|20x20px Westmeath had 4 wins in 2022. ** border|20x20px Meath had 6 wins in 2023. ** border|20x20px Down had 6 wins in 2024. ** border|20x20px Kildare had 6 wins in 2025.

====Beaten sides==== On five occasions a team was defeated twice, but remained in the knockout championship: * border|20x20px Longford (2023) were beaten by border|20x20px Carlow and border|20x20px 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. * Antrim (2025) were beaten by Westmeath and Limerick, but still qualified for the knockout stage.

====Final success rate==== Three teams have been victorious on each occasion they have appeared in the final: * border|20x20px Westmeath (2022) * border|20x20px Meath (2023) * border|20x20px Kildare (2025)

On the opposite end of the scale, three teams have lost on each occasion they have appeared in the final: * border|20x20px Cavan (2022) * border|20x20px Laois (2024) * border|20x20px Limerick (2025)

13 counties have the record number of consecutive participations in the Tailteann Cup, taking part in the all five editions of the competition.

==== 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 ====

* The most one sided finals: ** '''5 points''' – 2023: Meath 2–13 - 0–14 Down ** '''4 points''' – 2022: Westmeath 2–14 - 1–13 Cavan * The most one sided matches: ** '''22 points''' – 2024: Waterford 0–6 - 5–15 Kildare ** '''22 points''' – 2023: Down 8–16 - 2–12 Laois ** '''20 points''' – 2024: Kildare 3–25 - 1–11 Longford ** '''18 points''' – 2023: Tipperary 0–6 - 2–18 Down ** '''17 points''' – 2023: Meath 2–23 - 0–12 Wexford ** '''17 points''' – 2024: Sligo 2–20 - 0–9 London ** '''17 points''' – 2024: London 0–10 - 1–24 Down ** '''17 points''' – 2026: Waterford 0–10 - 5–12 London ** '''16 points''' – 2024: Tipperary 1–12 - 3–22 Sligo ** '''15 points''' – 2022: Offaly 3–17 - 0–11 New York

==== Scoring Events ====

* Most goals in a match: ** '''10''' – 2023: Down 8–16 - 2–12 Laois * Most points in a match: ** '''38''' – 2022: Westmeath 3–22 - 2–16 Offaly * Most goals by one team in a match: ** '''8''' – 2023: Down 8–16 - 2–12 Laois * Most points by one team in a match: ** '''25''' – 2023: Cavan 2–25 - 2–9 Offaly ** '''25''' – 2024: Kildare 3–25 - 1–11 Longford * Highest aggregate score: ** '''58 points''' – 2023: Down 8–16 - 2-12 Laois * Lowest aggregate score: ** '''21 points''' – 2024: Laois 0–11 - 0–10 Wicklow

==== Successful defending ==== Defending champions are promoted to the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in the following year, and a number of teams maintained that status in the year beyond that. These are:

* border|20x20px Westmeath 1 attempts out of 1 (2024) * border|20x20px Meath 1 attempts out of 1 (2025)

==== Gaps ====

* Longest gap between successive cup titles: ** '''0 years''': N/A * Longest gap between successive Tailteann Cup final appearances: ** '''1 year''': border|20x20px Down (2023–2024) * Longest gap between successive championship appearances ** '''3 years''': border|20x20px Westmeath (2022–2025)

==== Active gaps ====

* Longest active gap since last title: ** '''3 years''': border|20x20px Westmeath (2022–) * Longest active gaps since last cup final appearance: ** '''3 years''': border|20x20px Westmeath (2022–), border|20x20px Cavan (2022–) * Longest active gap since last cup appearance ** '''2 years''': border|20x20px Cavan (2023–), border|20x20px Meath (2023–)

==== Provinces ====

* To date, the Tailteann Cup final has not involved two teams from the same province. * The province providing the highest number of different winning teams is Leinster, with three: ** border|20x20px Meath ** border|20x20px Westmeath ** border|20x20px Kildare *Province success rates (of counties that have ever competed in the competition) ** border|20x20px Leinster 33% (3 out of 9 counties) ** border|20x20px Connacht 0% (0 out of 2 counties) ** border|20x20px Munster 0% (0 out of 3 counties) ** border|20x20px Ulster 25% (1 out of 4 counties)

==== Tailteann Cup final pairings ==== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" !Pairing !Meetings !Last meeting |- |Cavan v Westmeath |1 |2022 |- |Down v Meath |1 |2023 |- |Down v Laois |1 |2024 |- |Kildare v Limerick |1 |2025 |- |}

==== Longest undefeated run ==== The record for the longest unbeaten run stands at 6 games held by border|20x20px Westmeath (2022–2025), Meath (2023–), border|20x20px Down (2024–) and border|20x20px Kildare (2025–)

==== Miscellaneous ====

== Individual records ==

=== Top scorer === ==== Overall ==== {| class="wikitable sortable" !Year !Player !County !Tally !Total !Matches !Average |- | rowspan="1" align="center" |2022 | border|20x20px John Heslin |Westmeath | align="center" |1–25 | align="center" |28 | align="center" |4 | align="center" |7.0 |- | rowspan="1" align="center" |2023 | border|20x20px Pat Havern |Down | align="center" |1–34 | align="center" |37 | align="center" |7 | align="center" |5.3 |- | rowspan="1" align="center" |2024 | border|20x20px Mark Barry |Laois | align="center" |4–20 | align="center" |32 | align="center" |7 | align="center" |4.6 |- | rowspan="1" align="center" |2025 | | | align="center" | | align="center" | | align="center" | | align="center" | |- |}

==== Final ==== {| class="wikitable sortable" !Year !Player !County !Tally !Total !Opposition |- | rowspan="1" align="center" |2022 | border|20x20px Ronan O'Toole |Westmeath | align="center" |0–5 | align="center" |5 | Cavan |- | rowspan="1" align="center" |2023 | border|20x20px Jack O'Connor |Meath | align="center" |1–2 | align="center" |5 |Down |- | rowspan="1" align="center" |2024 | border|20x20px Mark Barry |Laois | align="center" |1–2 | align="center" |5 |Down |- | rowspan="1" align="center" |2025 | | | align="center" | | align="center" | | |- |}

=== Player of the Year === {| class="sortable wikitable" !Year !Player !County |- | rowspan="1" align="center" |2022 |border|20x20px Ronan O'Toole |Westmeath |- | rowspan="1" align="center" |2023 |border|20x20px Mathew Costello |Meath |- | rowspan="1" align="center" |2024<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2024/10/11/down-forward-pat-havern-named-tailteann-footballer-of-the-year/|title=Down forward Pat Havern named Tailteann Footballer of the Year|work=The Irish Times|first=Seán|last=Moran|date=11 October 2024}}</ref> |border|20x20px Pat Havern |Down |- | rowspan="1" align="center" |2025<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2025/1017/1539219-kildare-pair-beirne-boran-land-player-of-year-awards/|title=Kildare pair Alex Beirne and Cian Boran land player of year awards|publisher=RTÉ|date=17 October 2025}}</ref> |border|20x20px Alex Beirne |Kildare |- |}

=== Team of the Year ===

=== Players with more than one appearance === * Seán Carrabine (2022, 2024; Sligo) * Evan Lyons (2022, 2024; Sligo) * Pierce Laverty (2023, 2024; Down) * Odhran Murdock (2023, 2024; Down) * Sam McCartan (2022, 2025; Westmeath) * D Kirwan (2024, 2025; Kildare)

==== 2022 ==== # Aidan Devaney (Sligo) # Jack Smith (Westmeath) # Kevin Maguire (Westmeath) # Evan Lyons (Sligo) # Jason McLoughlin (Cavan) # Ronan Wallace (Westmeath) # Killian Clarke (Cavan) # Sam McCartan (Westmeath) # Seán Carrabine (Sligo) # Gearóid McKiernan (Cavan) # Ronan O'TooleFOTY (Westmeath) # Anton Sullivan (Offaly) # Gerard Smith (Cavan) # John Heslin (Westmeath) # Keith Beirne (Leitrim)

Reference: [https://www.gaa.ie/football/news/tailteann-cup-team-of-the-year Tailteann Cup Team of the Year 2022]

==== 2023 ==== <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/gaelic-games/67230396|title=Tailteann Cup: Down quartet named in second-tier competition's team of the year|publisher=BBC|date=26 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sportsjoe.ie/gaa/tailteann-cup-294526|title=Meath dominate Tailteann Cup Team of the Year while some big hitters miss out|publisher=JOE.ie|first=Lee|last=Costello|date=26 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2023/10/26/tailteann-cup-team-of-the-year-features-eight-meath-players/|title=Tailteann Cup team of the year features eight Meath players|work=The Irish Times|first=Seán|last=Moran|date=26 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/tailteann-cup-team-of-the-year-6207388-Oct2023/|title=Champions Meath dominate Tailteann Cup Team of the Year|publisher=The42.ie|date=26 October 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2023/1026/1413117-eight-meath-players-named-in-tailteann-cup-selection/|title=Eight Meath players named in Tailteann Cup selection|publisher=RTÉ|date=26 October 2023}}</ref> # Seán Brennan (Meath) # Adam O'Neill (Meath) # Pierce Laverty (Down) # Padraig Faulkner (Cavan) # Donal Keogan (Meath) # Padraic Harnan (Meath) # Danny Magill (Down) # Odhran Murdock (Down) # Conor Gray (Meath) # Jack Flynn (Meath) # Ross Dunphy (Carlow) # Liam Kerr (Down) # Jordan Morris (Meath) # Mathew CostelloFOTY (Meath) # Ruairí McCann (Antrim)

Reference: [https://www.gaa.ie/football/news/tailteann-cup-team-of-the-year-announced Tailteann Cup Team of the Year 2023]

==== 2024 ==== <ref>{{cite news|url=https://hoganstand.com/article/index/333881|title=Tailteann Cup Team of the Year announced|work=Hogan Stand|date=10 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/c748v79vlkeo|title=Five Down players make Tailteann team of the year|publisher=BBC|date=10 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2024/1010/1474668-five-down-players-in-tailteann-cup-team-of-the-year/|title=Five Down players in Tailteann Cup team of the year|publisher=RTÉ|date=10 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41492885.html|title=Finalists Down and Laois dominate Tailteann Cup team of the year: The pair of counties account for nine of the 15 players named|work=Irish Examiner|first=Cian|last=Locke|date=10 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishnews.com/gaa/gaelic-football/down-dominate-tailteann-cup-team-of-the-year-while-antrim-also-feature-SRRXXQMKZ5CJZOXDOQOALNEGFE/|title=Down dominate Tailteann Cup team of the year while Antrim also feature: Champions secure five spots after won over Laois in Croke Park final in July|work=The Irish News|date=10 October 2024}}</ref> # Killian Roche (Laois) # Pierce Laverty (Down) # Ryan McEvoy (Down) # Kavan Keenan (Antrim) # Daniel Guinness (Down) # Brian Byrne (Laois) # Evan Lyons (Sligo) # Emmet Rigter (Limerick) # Odhran Murdock (Down) # Mark Barry (Laois) # Darragh Kirwan (Kildare) # Seán Carrabine (Sligo) # Niall Murphy (Sligo) # Evan O'Carroll (Laois) # Pat HavernFOTY (Down)

Reference: [https://www.gaa.ie/article/tailteann-cup-team-of-the-year-announced-x4713 Tailteann Cup Team of the Year 2024]

==== 2025 ==== <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2025/1015/1538800-kildare-edge-limerick-in-tailteann-cup-team-of-the-year/|title=Kildare edge Limerick in Tailteann Cup Team of the Year|publisher=RTÉ|date=15 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://hoganstand.com/article/index/338201|title=Tailteann Cup Team of the Year announced|work=Hogan Stand|date=16 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/tailteann-cup-team-of-the-year-kildare-dominate-as-players-from-six-counties-make-the-final-cut/a1656654041.html|title=Tailteann Cup team of the year: Kildare dominate as players from six counties make the final cut|work=Irish Independent|first=Colm|last=Keys|date=16 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2025/10/16/champions-kildare-earn-five-spots-on-tailteann-cup-team-of-the-year/|title=Champions Kildare earn five spots on Tailteann Cup Team of the Year: Runners-up Limerick have four players recognised|work=The Irish Times|first=Seán|last=Moran|date=16 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/tailteann-cup-kildare-limerick-15-6846074-Oct2025/|title=Five for champions Kildare as Tailteann Cup team of the year announced: There are six counties represented in all on the team|publisher=The42.ie|date=16 October 2025}}</ref> # Josh Ryan (Limerick) # Harry O'Neill (Kildare) # Lee Cullen (Fermanagh) # Malachy Stone (Wicklow) # James McGrath (Kildare) # Iain Corbett (Limerick) # Sam McCartan (Westmeath) # Dean Healy (Wicklow) # Kevin Feely (Kildare) # James Naughton (Limerick) # Alex BeirneFOTY (Kildare) # Danny Neville (Limerick) # Luke Loughlin (Westmeath) # Darragh Kirwan (Kildare) # Sean Nolan (Wexford)

Reference: [https://www.gaa.ie/article/tailteann-cup-team-of-the-year-announced-x1689 Tailteann Cup Team of the Year 2025]

==See also== * All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (Tier 1) * All-Ireland Junior Football Championship (Tier 3) * All-Ireland Senior B Football Championship (1990–2000) * Tommy Murphy Cup (2004–2008)

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

==External links== * [https://www.gaa.ie GAA.ie] * [https://hoganstand.com/County/Wexford/Article/Index/321600 Tailteann Cup Hogan Stand]

Category:Tailteann Cup Category:2022 establishments in Ireland Category:All-Ireland organisations Gaelic football leagues in Ireland Category:Recurring sporting events established in 2022 Senior inter-county Gaelic football competitions

Tailteann Cup

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