Tailteann Cup 2025

[Rossfan]

Down or the rest of the teams were never out of the Sam Maguire? Had that changed? Am I missing something?

Ah just some Gaaboarders who love a good rant especially a negative one and get a dig at the GAA powers that be as well.

So you think the TC is a success?

Define success.

Limerick and Kildare players (especially the lad who got the goal)looked very happy.

14,000 in Newry
15,000 Ballybofey
13,900 Croke Park
9,000 in Killarney

[Saffrongael]

Down or the rest of the teams were never out of the Sam Maguire? Had that changed? Am I missing something?

Ah just some Gaaboarders who love a good rant especially a negative one and get a dig at the GAA powers that be as well.

So you think the TC is a success?

Define success.

Limerick and Kildare players (especially the lad who got the goal)looked very happy.

14,000 in Newry
15,000 Ballybofey
13,900 Croke Park
9,000 in Killarney

4 teams in Croke Park, and you usually get your biggest crowds in a final - not prelim QFs. Bizarre reasoning

[trileacman]

Down or the rest of the teams were never out of the Sam Maguire? Had that changed? Am I missing something?

Ah just some Gaaboarders who love a good rant especially a negative one and get a dig at the GAA powers that be as well.

So you think the TC is a success?

Define success.

Limerick and Kildare players (especially the lad who got the goal)looked very happy.

14,000 in Newry
15,000 Ballybofey
13,900 Croke Park
9,000 in Killarney

Use your own definition of success, it's a relatively common word and stop trying to deflect the question.

Has the TC been a success?

[JoG2]

The Fermanaghs seem to have a bee in their bonnet about being in the Tailteann Cup for some reason.

Some teams think they're above the competition. That's clear to be seen.

Might seem odd but I'd actually add in a 3rd tier to it.

Yes, Fermanagh who were 'brutal', have no midfield or forward plan would surely welcome a 3rd tier

[Armagh18]

I'm not against your view.

However, the route to qualifying for Sam Maguire should be the same for all. That's not currently the case. And before I'm accused of whinging for Ulster (which I am), Leinster has 11 teams in it ffs.

I agree there. Clare beating Waterford/Tipp shouldn't get them into Sam, same with Sligo beating New York and Leitrim, in comparison to who Down could have to beat, draw dependent. 

[Stickittotheman]

Down or the rest of the teams were never out of the Sam Maguire? Had that changed? Am I missing something?

Ah just some Gaaboarders who love a good rant especially a negative one and get a dig at the GAA powers that be as well.

Not quite. Fermanagh were getting it in the neck when I entered the discussion. They should like the competition and that's that....according to some Gaaboarders.

I wouldn't say that. But if getting to a quarter final of the All Ireland or an Ulster Final once every ten years is your aim then that is pretty grim tbh. Look at Westmeath the year they won the Talteann. Fully bought in and a big party in Mullingar to bring the trophy home. They aren't used to much success but enjoyed themselves.

And yet here are Fermanagh, who have never won a League title, never won an Ulster Championship nor an All Ireland and they are turning their nose up. It doesn't make any sense to me, plus the fact if Fermanagh were to make an Ulster final they would have been in the Sam Maguire. If you were so desperate to be in Sam it would be even more important to win the Talteann. Automatic entry next year. But hey ho.

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

You're reading a bit too much into it tbh.
People just don't seem bothered about going to watch the Tailteann Cup matches. There's really not that much more to it.

Down have a very good chance of winning it next year. I'd say they are hardly wetting themselves with anticipation over that prospect this morning though.

As I say, you're only interested in what you're interested in.

[trueblue1234]

I know a fair few from Fermanagh who were down and brought the family. Ones who have never had the kids down before. That wouldn't have happened without it.

[FermGael]

Down or the rest of the teams were never out of the Sam Maguire? Had that changed? Am I missing something?

Ah just some Gaaboarders who love a good rant especially a negative one and get a dig at the GAA powers that be as well.

Not quite. Fermanagh were getting it in the neck when I entered the discussion. They should like the competition and that's that....according to some Gaaboarders.

I wouldn't say that. But if getting to a quarter final of the All Ireland or an Ulster Final once every ten years is your aim then that is pretty grim tbh. Look at Westmeath the year they won the Talteann. Fully bought in and a big party in Mullingar to bring the trophy home. They aren't used to much success but enjoyed themselves.

And yet here are Fermanagh, who have never won a League title, never won an Ulster Championship nor an All Ireland and they are turning their nose up. It doesn't make any sense to me, plus the fact if Fermanagh were to make an Ulster final they would have been in the Sam Maguire. If you were so desperate to be in Sam it would be even more important to win the Talteann. Automatic entry next year. But hey ho.

The Fermanagh players went hard at it. They showed the competition no disrespect.

Making an all Ireland quarter final isn't pretty grim when you are a smaller county. Those days are what keeps the dream alive.
Beating a big team and going on a run via the backdoor did more to promote and push Gaelic in Fermanagh than any Tailtean cup will ever do .

Let's look at Westmeath .
Won the first competition.

How have they been developed ?
Back into the competition after 1 or 2 years .

What we are seeing is what happened in the hurling tiers.
Teams will now yo yo up and down .
Repeat winners etc .

Tell me how the Tailtean cup is developing all these counties ?

[ONARAGGATIP]

Down or the rest of the teams were never out of the Sam Maguire? Had that changed? Am I missing something?

He backed that up....

Dropping to Div 3 probably means Down need to reach an Ulster final to get into the Sam Maguire. That's not an easy task at the moment. There are certainly easier paths to it.....

But it's still available and up to them.. the door isn't shut, win or at least get to a provincial final and you're in, if you ain't good enough to be a div 2 team or can't win two (sometimes) games then you probably won't get too far, so players can concentrate on their clubs.

As I've said I personally prefer less games, senior championship should only be the top teams in first two divisions and a seeded straight knockout out for me

Down won 3 games and got cheated out of a draw by a blind umpire. Now it's back to square 1. How do you keep players interested. I'd much rather the chances in a back door system. We managed to reach an all Ireland final 15 years ago through it. The T Cup only creates elitism. Needs gone. Believe me no one here cared that much about the actual competition. The goal was purely getting to the sam maguire series. Give me 14k in newry any day than playing warm up to the proper stuff in croker.

[Rossfan]

2024 TC winners Down. Reached last 12 Sam in 25.
2023 TC winners Meath. Leinster Finalists and at least AI Quarter finalists 2025.
2022 winners Westmeath.
Got 2 years in Sam, didnt set world alight but some v narrow defeats.
Lot of players retired for 2025 and they failed to make Sam.

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

2024 TC winners Down. Reached last 12 Sam in 25.
2023 TC winners Meath. Leinster Finalists and at least AI Quarter finalists 2025.
2022 winners Westmeath.
Got 2 years in Sam, didnt set world alight but some v narrow defeats.
Lot of players retired for 2025 and they failed to make Sam.

2 of the 3 winners are back at it again next year probably.

[Milltown Row2]

Those unhappy with the tiered system is that solely for football? Is the hurling system ok?

So what's the best format then?

Provincial championships (as we have now)
Knocked out, season over
back at it again next year?

OR

Provincial championships (as we have now)
Knocked out, back door
Lose out and back at it next year?
Win then into a playoff knockout group?
lose that, season over and back again next year?

[Captain Scarlet]

Kildare had notions above our station after in 2024 a year with zero wins, a relegation and failing to win the Tailteann when we were in it.

For us this year, some still think we shouldn't be happy winning it after the dirge we served up yesterday. Teams and fans need to get a grip and stop moaning about a competition they are in because of an inability to win games at the highest level.

[mup]

Kildare had notions above our station after in 2024 a year with zero wins, a relegation and failing to win the Tailteann when we were in it.

For us this year, some still think we shouldn't be happy winning it after the dirge we served up yesterday. Teams and fans need to get a grip and stop moaning about a competition they are in because of an inability to win games at the highest level.

Personally I dont really care about the competition. I certainly wont be celebrating winning it. Give me a Leinster title any day of the week.