Tailteann Cup 2025

[Rossfan]

Are we giving Tailteann Cup success any credit for the journey Meath are on, or Down for that matter?  Did it give them the opportunity to build, win something, and kick on?

Shhhhhh
You can't be saying positive things about the TC.

Being in it was probably a wake up call initially, then getting 6 or 7 games and momentum of a winning run helped as well.
And of course an oul silver Cup is never any harm.

[twohands!!!]

I'm getting a bit fed up with the replies from Milltown Row2 - he seems unable to take on board others' views.
Nobody is hammering Clare - they have benefited from an unfair system but cannot be blamed.

I'll repeat my point:
In last 3 years only one of six counties, Westmeath in 2024, advanced to the Sam Maguire Cup after gaining promotion from Division 3.
There is no fairness in a system that allows Division 3 and 4 counties that reach Connacht or Munster Finals take the place of the NFL Division 3 winners or runners-up who finished above them in NFL.
The 2 teams promoted from Division 3 should automatically qualify for that year's Sam Maguire Cup.

The thing is I can't see any of the provincial councils being willing to "discredit" the provincial championships by "giving up" more places to the league. League position is obviously fairer compared to the luck of getting a handy provincial draw - if you look back over the various provincial championships over the years a lot of teams ended up getting to the provincial finals by turning in one or two decent performances and there was some years that teams ended up in some of the provincial finals by basically being the least shit of the sides on their side of the draw as opposed to being anywhere close to the being in the top 8 teams in the country.
The harsh reality is that because the provincial councils control such a big chunk of the votes at Congress  that the chances to any switch to favour the national league is remote.

[The Boy Wonder]

The thing is I can't see any of the provincial councils being willing to "discredit" the provincial championships by "giving up" more places to the league. League position is obviously fairer compared to the luck of getting a handy provincial draw - if you look back over the various provincial championships over the years a lot of teams ended up getting to the provincial finals by turning in one or two decent performances and there was some years that teams ended up in some of the provincial finals by basically being the least shit of the sides on their side of the draw as opposed to being anywhere close to the being in the top 8 teams in the country.
The harsh reality is that because the provincial councils control such a big chunk of the votes at Congress  that the chances to any switch to favour the national league is remote.

Very true - and you won't find Connacht or Munster posters on this board arguing against a system that can reward them with a place in Sam Maguire Cup for winning one (sometimes easy) game in their province.

And of course Meath should have been in Sam Maguire Cup in 2023 as a top-14 team. Instead the 2022 Tailteann Cup winners Westmeath too their place in Sam Maguire Cup in 2023. Through no fault of their own Meath prevented a Division 3 or 4 team winning that's year's Tailteann Cup.

[Dunneroyal]

The thing is I can't see any of the provincial councils being willing to "discredit" the provincial championships by "giving up" more places to the league. League position is obviously fairer compared to the luck of getting a handy provincial draw - if you look back over the various provincial championships over the years a lot of teams ended up getting to the provincial finals by turning in one or two decent performances and there was some years that teams ended up in some of the provincial finals by basically being the least shit of the sides on their side of the draw as opposed to being anywhere close to the being in the top 8 teams in the country.
The harsh reality is that because the provincial councils control such a big chunk of the votes at Congress  that the chances to any switch to favour the national league is remote.

Very true - and you won't find Connacht or Munster posters on this board arguing against a system that can reward them with a place in Sam Maguire Cup for winning one (sometimes easy) game in their province.

And of course Meath should have been in Sam Maguire Cup in 2023 as a top-14 team. Instead the 2022 Tailteann Cup winners Westmeath too their place in Sam Maguire Cup in 2023. Through no fault of their own Meath prevented a Division 3 or 4 team winning that's year's Tailteann Cup.

I'd broadly agree with that. When you see where Meath are now it is a bit of a kick in the face to 23 tc when really someone else would have benefited more from winning it.

[Lamps]

Getting rid of a dinosaur like Colm O'Rourke is worth 10 Tailteann Cups for Meath.

[Captain Scarlet]

Bringing this back to the top - where it belongs!

Kildare were atricious v Fermanagh but they are always bad against a team that really sit back. Still, there were so many individual 'meh' performances that I think there will be a reaction.
Limerick will surely just go for it as I don't think they are able to lock things down as well as other teams, so that should suit Kildare too.

Hoping for a win and finishing the year with promotion and a place in Sam. Kildare, Meath and Louth are all getting their acts together and the Dubs in transition should make the province better.
That being said there were some cracking games this year - Dublin v Meath, Kildare v Westmeath and Louth, plus the Final.

Any Limerick fold on here?

[From the Bunker]

Bringing this back to the top - where it belongs!

Kildare were atricious v Fermanagh but they are always bad against a team that really sit back. Still, there were so many individual 'meh' performances that I think there will be a reaction.
Limerick will surely just go for it as I don't think they are able to lock things down as well as other teams, so that should suit Kildare too.

Hoping for a win and finishing the year with promotion and a place in Sam. Kildare, Meath and Louth are all getting their acts together and the Dubs in transition should make the province better.
That being said there were some cracking games this year - Dublin v Meath, Kildare v Westmeath and Louth, plus the Final.

Any Limerick fold on here?

I can't see either of these teams having any impact in Sam next year. Kildare probably have more potential.

There is a huge need for a third tier with a reduction of teams in Sam and the Tailteann and letting Scottish, English and USA based regions into it (the 3rd tier). A reduction to 12-12-8 (8 + others) would provide three competitive competitions.

[twohands!!!]

I can't see either of these teams having any impact in Sam next year. Kildare probably have more potential.

There is a huge need for a third tier with a reduction of teams in Sam and the Tailteann and letting Scottish, English and USA based regions into it (the 3rd tier). A reduction to 12-12-8 (8 + others) would provide three competitive competitions.

I think it's going to take a few years of the current setup before the bottom teams in the Tailteann start looking for a third tier.

I don't know how much demand there would be for letting Scottish, English and (especially USA) based regions into a 3rd tier though given the cost and logistics they would bring with them. I'd say the current Junior and Ny in the Tailteann suits them fairly fine for the time being.

Also I think the bottom Sam/Upper Tailteann teams are not going to be in any huge rush to change things any time soon. I could see a lot of those county boards thinking there wouldn't be a whole lot of upside and would be a lot of downsides in changing from the current system e.g. no glamour ties (with crowds) against the top team.

[Rossfan]

The GAA said last year there was "no appetite among the Counties" for a 3rd tier.
3 (or more) Tiers work at Club Football, Hurling,  LGFA and Camogie.
Also work at Inter County Hurling,  LGFA and Camogie.
But inter County men's football it's a big NO!
Took years to get the TC established as a kind of halfway house.

[From the Bunker]

The GAA said last year there was "no appetite among the Counties" for a 3rd tier.
3 (or more) Tiers work at Club Football, Hurling,  LGFA and Camogie.
Also work at Inter County Hurling,  LGFA and Camogie.
But inter County men's football it's a big NO!
Took years to get the TC established as a kind of halfway house.

Yeah, there is no rush. I'm just looking at the bottom of the pile Gaelic counties and the Diaspora abroad having something to aim for and the chance of a Big(ish) day out.

[Rossfan]

Not against your suggestion at all.
There have been 8 TC finalists with 4 of them having around 20 Senior AIs between them.

What about the Carlows, Longford, Fermanaghs etc getting a day out at a National Championship Final?

[FermGael]

Not against your suggestion at all.
There have been 8 TC finalists with 4 of them having around 20 Senior AIs between them.

What about the Carlows, Longford, Fermanaghs etc getting a day out at a National Championship Final?

Gone Fishing.

[Cunny Funt]

The GAA said last year there was "no appetite among the Counties" for a 3rd tier.
3 (or more) Tiers work at Club Football, Hurling,  LGFA and Camogie.
Also work at Inter County Hurling,  LGFA and Camogie.
But inter County men's football it's a big NO!
Took years to get the TC established as a kind of halfway house.

And can see why,  Limerick are the 3rd team in the 4 years of the Tailteann who have reached the final off the back of playing Div 4 league football. Of course if they receive heavy loss against Kildare (possible) then calls for a 3rd tier will be made by the usual pundits and journalists.

[The Boy Wonder]

I find it bewildering that posters should advocate a 3rd tier rather than focusing on the inequalities of the present 2-tier system.

I pointed out in previous posts that In last 3 years only one of six counties, Westmeath in 2024, advanced to the Sam Maguire Cup based on NFL position. This year both Offaly and Klldare were denied a place in Sam Maguire by Clare (Munster Finalists) and Down (2024 Tailteann Champions).

Should Kildare overcome Limerick tomorrow I hope  they don't find themselves relegated from Division 2 next year thus denying one of next year's Division 3 finalists a place in 2026 Sam Maguire Cup. Kildare would still qualify for Sam Maguire Cup as Tailteann Cup Champions.

Should Limerick win tomorrow and not qualify for NFL Division 3 Final next year then they could still deny a Division 3 finalist a place in 2026 Sam Maguire by qualifying for 2026 Munster Final.

So Sligo and Fermanagh (for example) could top Division 3 next year and gain promotion to Division 2. Yet one or both could be denied a place in Sam Maguire depending on the fortunes of Kildare and Limerick.

Rather than a 3rd Tier what is needed is fair play for current 2nd Tier teams. This year both Kildare and Offaly should have had the opportunity to play in Sam Maguire Cuo and benefitted from exposure to football at that level. Next year Down and Westmeath will play in Division 3 and, given their Sam Maguire experience, will have a marked advantage on the other Division 3 teams.

There are those who will just say that these other teams need to get their act together and others who lazily propose a 3rd tier. What is needed is an equitable system that guarantees Division 3 finalists a place in Sam Maguire Cup. The Provincial Championship route into Sam Maguire is the barrier to fairness.

Anyway good luck to Kildare and Limerick tomorrow – hopefully it will be onwards and upwards for the winners.

[Milltown Row2]

Too many teams playing for a competition well beyond their standard.

Raise your standards and you'll belong..

You've two options maintain div 2 status or reach a county final..

Promotion from div3 doesn't guarantee but it's the other option.

No div 3 team regardless of their tradition or upsets will win Sam

The season at championship level has way too many games for no reason