Guide to the Sam Maguire and Tailteann Cup in 2024

[seanyb]

Good to see the Penalty Kick Champs are mentally recovering from their embarrassing home defeat to plucky Division 2 Champs Donegal. Certs for the AI.

Better than being serial losers 

[Rossfan]

Is there a shield for the 4 bottom teams ?
Away to feckin Dublin again, 7 days later Mayowestros (unbeaten since 2001 in the Hyde) or Galway ( 1991) will leave us in bad shape for Cavan.

[Sportacus]

Why do they do the draw for this before the provincial finals?

It's a good question.  Some teams might now be thinking a loss wouldn't be the end of the world, so it takes the edge off things.

[J70]

Why do they do the draw for this before the provincial finals?

It's a good question.  Some teams might now be thinking a loss wouldn't be the end of the world, so it takes the edge off things.

I'm pretty sure both Donegal and Armagh will want to avoid the group with the winners of Mayo/Galway and Derry!

Mayo and Galway are certainly in a tough position. The loser will get Dublin, Ros and Cavan; the winner the aforementioned group with Derry, Donegal/Armagh and Westmeath.

[GAABoardMod5]

Group 1 Galway/Mayo,Armagh/Donegal,Derry Westmeath

Group 2 Dublin/Louth Galway/Mayo Roscommon Cavan

Group  3 Donegal/Armagh Kerry/Clare,Tyrone Cork

Group 4 Kerry/Cork Dublin/Louth Monaghan Meath

Very disappointed...

[armaghniac]

Why do they do the draw for this before the provincial finals?

It's a good question.  Some teams might now be thinking a loss wouldn't be the end of the world, so it takes the edge off things.

I'm pretty sure both Donegal and Armagh will want to avoid the group with the winners of Mayo/Galway and Derry!

Mayo and Galway are certainly in a tough position. The loser will get Dublin, Ros and Cavan; the winner the aforementioned group with Derry, Donegal/Armagh and Westmeath.

Armagh beat Galway and Westmeath last year and drew with Derry. That would do again.
In any case, teams can reach the preliminary QFs by kicking the weakest team and then you see who you get there, although the sequence of games can banjax you with injuries etc.

[J70]

Why do they do the draw for this before the provincial finals?

It's a good question.  Some teams might now be thinking a loss wouldn't be the end of the world, so it takes the edge off things.

I'm pretty sure both Donegal and Armagh will want to avoid the group with the winners of Mayo/Galway and Derry!

Mayo and Galway are certainly in a tough position. The loser will get Dublin, Ros and Cavan; the winner the aforementioned group with Derry, Donegal/Armagh and Westmeath.

Armagh beat Galway and Westmeath last year and drew with Derry. That would do again.
In any case, teams can reach the preliminary QFs by kicking the weakest team and then you see who you get there, although the sequence of games can banjax you with injuries etc.

Beating Monaghan last year did us zero favours as by finishing second, we ended up getting a hammering from a third place qualifier Tyrone!

Whereas Monaghan ended up with much easier game against Kildare and made the AI semi after the shoot out against yourselves.

[Captain Obvious]

Why do they do the draw for this before the provincial finals?

HQ wants cuts ties with the provincial championship and the All Ireland series, haven't got their way yet so in the meantime have decided to degrade provincial finals.

Expected group winners after that draw will be Derry,Dublin,Kerry,Donegal and might be the four to the reach the All Ireland semi finals also.

[Dunneroyal]

Would be happy enough with that draw from a Monaghan perspective, though Meath and Louth probably thinking the same thing.

. We would be if we had a different manager. Unfortunately under Latin boy I fear we have no chance. Next year under the u20 manager we will take a giant step forward but this year is a write off for our senior team I'm afraid. Would love to be proved wrong.

[Rossfan]

Tailteann cup draw

Group 1  Kildare  Leitrim  Longford  Waterford

Group 2  Sligo Antrim Wexford Tipperary

Group 3 Fermanagh Laois Wicklow Carlow

Group 4 Down Offaly Limerick London

10 All Irelands in Group 4!!

[OakLeaf]

Tyrone be happy with that draw, short drive to ulster winner and should have more than enough for clare and Cork. Draw from hell for Derry.

Definitely a tough draw for us but the only advantage to be had is from winning the group, so from that perspective avoiding Dublin and Kerry is most welcome.

[onefineday]

Tailteann cup draw

Group 1  Kildare  Leitrim  Longford  Waterford

Group 2  Sligo Antrim Wexford Tipperary

Group 3 Fermanagh Laois Wicklow Carlow

Group 4 Down Offaly Limerick London

10 All Irelands in Group 4!!

9 all Irelands in group 2!!

[onefineday]

It's a whole load of games to whittle the number of teams down from 16 to 12. And when the draw is made you will be able to predict the 4 teams who will be eliminated with a fair degree of certainty. The main interest will centre around which teams top their groups. 

That's true, because after last year, we all now realise what an advantage finishing top appears to be.

I said last year, if additional jeopardy is needed, we could have the four group winners and the best 2nd place team all progress directly to the quarters. The third place team with the worst record would be eliminated - that should mean little or no dead rubbers.

I'd also tweak it by giving the provincial winners and the 4 top league places (who weren't provincial winners) two home games and get rid of the neutral ground game - this would provide better incentives for provincial winners and league placings. It would also boost attendances as the neutral games last year were very poorly attended iirc.

But this scheme basically advantages Dublin and Kerry, if they didn't have enough advantages.

It did cross my mind, maybe we could just give 2 home games to the highest league finishers?
Still, I like the idea of only 3 third place teams progressing, it happens in the tailteann to facilitate New York, but equally would work by just putting 5 straight into the qualifiers.

[onefineday]

Why do they do the draw for this before the provincial finals?

It's a good question.  Some teams might now be thinking a loss wouldn't be the end of the world, so it takes the edge off things.

I'd imagine the draw is made in advance for logistical reasons, it allows teams to prepare by knowing when they are first out etc, couldn't leave it until the provincials are over as some teams will be out 6 days later.

[Mario]

Tyrone be happy with that draw, short drive to ulster winner and should have more than enough for clare and Cork. Draw from hell for Derry.

Definitely a tough draw for us but the only advantage to be had is from winning the group, so from that perspective avoiding Dublin and Kerry is most welcome.

It's hardly a draw from hell. If we can't beat Westmeath we don't deserve to be in last 12. In terms of topping the group, I'd prefer the Connacht winners to any other province. Ulster runner up will be a tough one but we should have plenty of motivation to play either of those teams.