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 title has been won by 3 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 SFC, it is not possible to defend a title. The all-time record-holders are therefore Down, Meath and Westmeath, who have won the cup on 1 occasion each. Down are the title holders, defeating Laois by 0-14 to 2-06 in the 2024 final. Down are also the only team to appear in the final twice, finishing as runner-up in the 2023 showpiece, before victory in 2024.
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 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.[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] 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.
Development
In 2023, following the success of the inaugural cup – which had been a straight knock-out competition – a group stage was introduced.
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–
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 (16 teams remaining)
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 competed in the 2024 Tailteann Cup:
County | Last Cup Title | Last Provincial Title | Last All-Ireland Title | Position in 2023 Championship |
---|---|---|---|---|
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— | 1951 | — | |
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— | 1944 | — | |
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— | 1994 | 1994 | |
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— | — | — | |
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— | 2000 | 1928 | |
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— | 2003 | — | |
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— | 1994 | — | |
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— | 1896 | 1896 | |
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— | — | — | |
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— | 1968 | — | |
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— | — | — | |
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— | 1997 | 1982 | |
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— | 2007 | — | |
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— | 2020 | 1920 | |
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— | 1898 | — | |
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— | 1945 | 1918 | |
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— | — | — |
List of Tailteann Cup teams
The following county teams have competed in the Tailteann Cup in at least one edition of the competition.
County team | Appearances | Debut | Most recent | Cup Titles | Last Cup Title | Best Tailteann Cup result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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3 | 2022 | 2024 | 0 | — | Semi-finals |
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3 | 2022 | 2024 | 0 | — | Quarter-finals |
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2 | 2022 | 2023 | 0 | — | Runners-up |
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3 | 2022 | 2024 | 1 | 2024 | Champions |
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3 | 2022 | 2024 | 0 | — | Quarter-finals |
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1 | 2024 | 0 | — | Quarter-finals | |
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3 | 2022 | 2024 | 0 | — | Runners-up |
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3 | 2022 | 2024 | 0 | — | Quarter-finals |
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2 | 2023 | 2024 | 0 | — | Quarter-finals |
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3 | 2022 | 2024 | 0 | — | Preliminary quarter-finals |
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3 | 2022 | 2024 | 0 | — | Preliminary quarter-finals |
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1 | 2023 | 1 | 2023 | Champions | |
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3 | 2022 | 2024 | 0 | — | Quarter-finals |
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3 | 2022 | 2024 | 0 | — | Semi-finals |
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2 | 2022 | 2024 | 0 | — | Semi-finals |
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3 | 2022 | 2024 | 0 | — | Preliminary quarter-finals |
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3 | 2022 | 2024 | 0 | — | Group stage |
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1 | 2022 | 1 | 2022 | Champions | |
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3 | 2022 | 2024 | 0 | — | Quarter-finals |
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3 | 2022 | 2024 | 0 | — | Quarter-finals |
Participation by province
Province | No. | County team | No. | Years |
---|---|---|---|---|
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9 | Carlow | 3 | 2022, 2023, 2024 |
Kildare | 1 | 2024 | ||
Laois | 3 | 2022, 2023, 2024 | ||
Longford | 3 | 2022, 2023, 2024 | ||
Offaly | 3 | 2022, 2023, 2024 | ||
Wexford | 3 | 2022, 2023, 2024 | ||
Wicklow | 3 | 2022, 2023, 2024 | ||
Westmeath | 1 | 2022 | ||
Meath | 1 | 2023 | ||
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4 | Antrim | 3 | 2022, 2023, 2024 |
Cavan | 2 | 2022, 2023 | ||
Down | 3 | 2022, 2023, 2024 | ||
Fermanagh | 3 | 2022, 2023, 2024 | ||
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3 | Tipperary | 3 | 2022, 2023, 2024 |
Waterford | 3 | 2022, 2023, 2024 | ||
Limerick | 2 | 2023, 2024 | ||
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2 | Leitrim | 3 | 2022, 2023, 2024 |
Sligo | 2 | 2022, 2024 | ||
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1 | London | 3 | 2022, 2023, 2024 |
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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
Managers
Winning managers
# | Manager(s) | Winning team(s) | Titles(s) | Winning years |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
Westmeath | 1 | 2022 |
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Meath | 1 | 2023 | |
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Down | 1 | 2024 |
List of finals
Year | Date | Winner | Runner-up | Venue | Winning captain(s) | Winning margin | Referee | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
County | Score | County | 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 | 2-06 (12) | Croke Park | Pierce Laverty | 2 | Brendan Griffin (Kerry) |
2025 |
Roll of honour
Performances by county team
County team | Title(s) | Runner-up | Years won | Years runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|
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1 | 1 | 2024 | 2023 |
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1 | 0 | 2022 | — |
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1 | 0 | 2023 | — |
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0 | 1 | — | 2022 |
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0 | 1 | — | 2024 |
Performances by province
Province | Winner | Runner-up | Total |
---|---|---|---|
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2 | 1 | 3 |
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1 | 2 | 3 |
Team records and statistics
Team results
Legend
- 1st – Champion
- 2nd – Runner-up
- 3rd – Semi-finalist
- 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) | 2024 (17) | Years |
---|---|---|---|---|
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R1 | SF | SF | 3 |
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QF | QF | GS | 3 |
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2nd | QF | AI | 2 |
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R1 | 2nd | 1st | 3 |
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QF | PQF | QF | 3 |
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AI | AI | QF | 1 |
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R1 | SF | 2nd | 3 |
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QF | GS | PQF | 3 |
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AI | QF | QF | 2 |
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R1 | GS | PQF | 3 |
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R1 | PQF | GS | 3 |
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AI | 1st | AI | 1 |
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QF | PQF | PQF | 3 |
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SF | PQF | GS | 3 |
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SF | AI | SF | 2 |
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R1 | GS | PQF | 3 |
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PR | GS | GS | 3 |
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1st | AI | AI | 1 |
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PR | QF | GS | 3 |
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R1 | GS | QF | 3 |
Seasons in Tailteann Cup
The number of years that each county team has played in the Tailteann Cup (between 2022 and 2024). A total of 20 county teams have competed in at least one season of the Tailteann Cup. 14 county teams have participated in the most championships. The county teams in bold participated in the 2024 Tailteann Cup.
Years | Counties |
---|---|
3 | Antrim, Carlow, Down, Fermanagh, Laois, Leitrim, London, Longford, New York, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow |
2 | Cavan, Limerick, Sligo |
1 | Kildare, Meath, Westmeath |
Debut of county teams
Year | Debutants | Total |
---|---|---|
2022 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
17 |
2023 | ![]() ![]() |
2 |
2024 | ![]() |
1 |
Total | 20 |
All-time table
Legend
Colours |
---|
Currently competing in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship |
Currently competing in the Tailteann Cup |
after 2024 final
# | Team | Pld | W | D | L | Points | P.P.G. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
14 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 1.571 |
2 | ![]() |
12 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 1.417 |
3 | ![]() |
14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 1.071 |
4 | ![]() |
6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 2.000 |
= | ![]() |
8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 1.500 |
6 | ![]() |
8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 1.375 |
= | ![]() |
10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 11 | 1.100 |
8 | ![]() |
9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 1.111 |
9 | ![]() |
10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 0.900 |
= | ![]() |
11 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 0.818 |
11 | ![]() |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2.000 |
= | ![]() |
10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 0.800 |
13 | ![]() |
4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1.500 |
= | ![]() |
9 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0.667 |
15 | ![]() |
9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 0.555 |
16 | ![]() |
8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 0.500 |
17 | ![]() |
8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 0.375 |
18 | ![]() |
7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0.286 |
= | ![]() |
8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0.250 |
20 | ![]() |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 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
- Most championships
- Most second-place finishes
- Most semi-final finishes
- Most quarter-final finishes
- Most preliminary quarter-final finishes
- Most group stage finishes
Unbeaten sides
- Teams that have won the Tailteann Cup unbeaten:
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 teams have appeared in the final, being victorious on all occasions:
On the opposite end of the scale, only two team have appeared in the final, losing on each occasion:
Consecutive participations
- 3,
Antrim (2022-2024)
- 3,
Carlow (2022-2024)
- 3,
Down (2022-2024)
- 3,
Fermanagh (2022-2024)
- 3,
Laois (2022-2024)
- 3,
Leitrim (2022-2024)
- 3,
London (2022-2024)
- 3,
Longford (2022-2024)
- 3,
New York (2022-2024)
- 3,
Offaly (2022-2024)
- 3,
Tipperary (2022-2024)
- 3,
Waterford(2022-2024)
- 3,
Wexford (2022-2024)
- 3,
Wicklow (2022-2024)
14 counties have the record number of consecutive participations in the Tailteann Cup, taking part in the all three 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:
- The most one sided matches:
- 22 points – 2024: Waterford 0-06 - 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 0-06 - 2-18 Down
- 17 points – 2023: Meath 2-23 - 0-12 Wexford
- 17 points – 2024: Sligo 2-20 - 0-09 London
- 17 points – 2024: London 0-10 - 1-24 Down
- 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:
- Most points in a match:
- Most goals by one team in a match:
- Most points by one team in a match:
- Highest aggregate score:
- Lowest aggregate score:
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 gap between successive cup titles:
- 0 years: N/A
- Longest gap between successive Tailteann Cup final appearances:
- Longest gap between successive championship appearances
Active gaps
- Longest active gap since last title:
- Longest active gaps since last cup final appearance:
- Longest active gap since last cup appearance
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 (of counties that have ever competed in the competition)
Tailteann Cup final pairings
Pairing | Meetings | Last meeting |
---|---|---|
Cavan v Westmeath | 1 | 2022 |
Down v Meath | 1 | 2023 |
Down v Laois | 1 | 2024 |
Longest undefeated run
The record for the longest unbeaten run stands at 6 games held by Meath (2023-) and
Down (2024-)
Miscellaneous
- Best finish by a debuting team
- Best finish by a debuting team (after 2022)
- Highest winning record
- Lowest winning record
- 0%,
New York (0 wins in 2 matches)
- 0%,
- Most played match
Individual records
Player of the Year
Year | Player | County |
---|---|---|
2022 | ![]() |
Westmeath |
2023 | ![]() |
Meath |
2024 |
Team of the Year
2022
- 1 Aidan Devaney (Sligo)
- 2 Jack Smith (Westmeath)
- 3 Kevin Maguire (Westmeath)
- 4 Evan Lyons (Sligo)
- 5 Jason McLoughlin (Cavan)
- 6 Ronan Wallace (Westmeath)
- 7 Killian Clarke (Cavan)
- 8 Sam McCartan (Westmeath)
- 9 Seán Carrabine (Sligo)
- 10 Gearóid McKiernan (Cavan)
- 11 Ronan O'TooleFOTY (Westmeath)
- 12 Anton Sullivan (Offaly)
- 13 Gerard Smith (Cavan)
- 14 John Heslin (Westmeath)
- 15 Keith Beirne (Leitrim)
Reference: Tailteann Cup Team of the Year 2022
2023
- 1 Seán Brennan (Meath)
- 2 Adam O'Neill (Meath)
- 3 Pierce Laverty (Down)
- 4 Padraig Faulkner (Cavan)
- 5 Donal Keogan (Meath)
- 6 Padraic Harnan (Meath)
- 7 Danny Magill (Down)
- 8 Odhran Murdock (Down)
- 9 Conor Gray (Meath)
- 10 Jack Flynn (Meath)
- 11 Ross Dunphy (Carlow)
- 12 Liam Kerr (Down)
- 13 Jordan Morris (Meath)
- 14 Mathew CostelloFOTY (Meath)
- 15 Ruairí McCann (Antrim)
Reference: Tailteann Cup Team of the Year 2023
2024
Reference: Tailteann Cup Team of the Year 2024
Top scorer
Overall
Year | Player | County | Tally | Total | Matches | Average |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | ![]() |
Westmeath | 1–25 | 28 | 4 | 7.0 |
2023 | ![]() |
Down | 1–34 | 37 | 7 | 5.3 |
2024 |
Final
Year | Player | County | Tally | Total | Opposition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | ![]() |
Westmeath | 0–5 | 5 | Cavan |
2023 | ![]() |
Meath | 1–2 | 5 | Down |
2024 |
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
- ^ "Second Tier Championship format to be discussed in January". gaa.ie. 24 November 2018.
- ^ Sean Moran (19 October 2019). "Tier 2 football championship gets green light at special congress". The Irish Times.
- ^ Kevin O'Brien (29 February 2020). "Tier 2 football championship to be called the Tailteann Cup". the42.ie.
- ^ a b "All-Ireland football championship to be revamped in 2023 as Green Proposal passes Congress". the42.ie. 26 February 2022.
- ^ "GAA publish Master Fixtures Schedule for 2022". gaa.ie. 21 December 2021.
- ^ "Tailteann Cup decider won't feature on All-Ireland undercard". RTE Sport. 22 December 2021.
- ^ Ciarán Murphy (10 March 2022). "Ciarán Murphy: Priorities unclear until the GAA gives the Tailteann Cup some love". The Irish Times.
- ^ "Tailteann Cup: Down quartet named in second-tier competition's team of the year". BBC. 26 October 2023.
- ^ Costello, Lee (26 October 2023). "Meath dominate Tailteann Cup Team of the Year while some big hitters miss out". JOE.ie.
- ^ Moran, Seán (26 October 2023). "Tailteann Cup team of the year features eight Meath players". The Irish Times.
- ^ "Champions Meath dominate Tailteann Cup Team of the Year". The42.ie. 26 October 2023.
- ^ "Eight Meath players named in Tailteann Cup selection". RTÉ. 26 October 2023.
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