Tailteann Cup 2025

[Milltown Row2]

Are they in Sam next year due to being div 2 teams then?

Must you be vexatious asking a question that you know the answer to or are you just being a smartass ?
I respect people have different views - you don't seem to be able to take that on board.

Both Kildare and Offaly have lost out this year.
They should have been entitled to compete in the Sam Maguire Cup and whatever the outcome both would have benefited.

The counties voted this in, your opinion is they should be in because they were 1st and 2nd of division 3 this year, when it was voted that they be in Sam Maguire when they are div2 teams. Pointless argument ffs!

They lost out purely because they were in a different league and didn't reach their provincial final. Simply not good enough.

The moaning over something voted in by your county delegates at congress is as bad as the moaning by Jimmy McGuinness and those moaning about Jimmy

Offaly and Kildare can hopefully put up a good show next year when they are rightly in Sam because of their efforts in the league.

They'll have a season in a higher grade and that'll give them better preparation come championship

[The Boy Wonder]

Down and Westmeath were relegated from Division 2 this year.

Down remained in the Sam Maguire Cup by virtue of the fact that they won the Tailteann Cup last year.
Thus Kildare as beaten Division 3 finalists were denied a place in the Sam Maguire Cup.

Westmeath finishing last in NFL Division 2 were demoted from the Sam Maguire Cup to the Tailteann Cup.

Clare's gained a place in the Sam Maguire Cup by winning one game in the Munster SFC (semi-final v Tipperary).
This denied Offaly, Division 3 Champions, a place in the Sam Maguire Cup.

[Rossfan]

"Thems the Rules" and it's the same qualification criteria for next year's system.

[Armagh18]

Would a fairer system be only provincial winners get automatic entry? Avoids farces like Clare beating Tipp and Waterford to get into Sam or Sligo beating London and Leitrim. 

Then give the last 2 TC winners automatic entry, to avoid a situation like Down who may not qualify next year for Sam, gives TC winners 2 years at Sam Maguire football.

So Sam Maguire is made up of 4 provincial winners, 2 previous TC winners and then the top 10 league teams outside this?

[SaffronSports]

So is the issue just the provincials being included in it? I know in Ulster, the provincial championship still holds some weight but I get the point regarding Clare. Munster are looking to seed their championship so ultimately, unless Clare beat Cork or Kerry they won't be in Sam Maguire unless they do so via the league? Does that sort the issue or are other things at play?

[The Boy Wonder]

"Thems the Rules" and it's the same qualification criteria for next year's system.

Maybe you might explain the rules to Milltown Row2 - he seems to think that Kildare & Offaly will be in Sam next year.
Not necessarily so - if the are both relegated from NFL Div2 then then will play in Tailteann Cup (of course Kildare may qualify for Sam by winning this year's Tailteann Cup.

Take a scenario where Antrim & Laois top Division 3 next year. They too could well be denied a place in 2026 Sam Maguire and then be relegated the following year meaning never getting opportunity to play in Sam Maguire.

The door from TC Cup to Sam Maguire is narrow and the gap in standards is widening all the time.

[Rossfan]

Meath and Down have fairly closed some gaps this year.

As for Munster I suspect the 4 others will likely out vote Cork/Kerry on that seeding proposal.

Back to the TC - €60 to see your team in the Final!!!

[imtommygunn]

"Thems the Rules" and it's the same qualification criteria for next year's system.

Maybe you might explain the rules to Milltown Row2 - he seems to think that Kildare & Offaly will be in Sam next year.
Not necessarily so - if the are both relegated from NFL Div2 then then will play in Tailteann Cup (of course Kildare may qualify for Sam by winning this year's Tailteann Cup.

Take a scenario where Antrim & Laois top Division 3 next year. They too could well be denied a place in 2026 Sam Maguire and then be relegated the following year meaning never getting opportunity to play in Sam Maguire.

The door from TC Cup to Sam Maguire is narrow and the gap in standards is widening all the time.

If only antrim could win division 3 next year...

Do you think the TC is widening it though? Funny I think Down and now Kildare have basically had the boot up the arse they needed because they should be better than they are. Westmeath are a funny one - they seem to have lost a few and are about yo yo level. I thought they were unlucky in the league but then if you want to be in the sam maguire you would need to be beating wicklow.

Clare were whipping boys this year. You have the likes of derry having to play dublin galway and armagh and then teams in clare's group just needed to beat clare to go through. Something has got to give there.

[SaffronSports]

"Thems the Rules" and it's the same qualification criteria for next year's system.

Maybe you might explain the rules to Milltown Row2 - he seems to think that Kildare & Offaly will be in Sam next year.
Not necessarily so - if the are both relegated from NFL Div2 then then will play in Tailteann Cup (of course Kildare may qualify for Sam by winning this year's Tailteann Cup.

Take a scenario where Antrim & Laois top Division 3 next year. They too could well be denied a place in 2026 Sam Maguire and then be relegated the following year meaning never getting opportunity to play in Sam Maguire.

The door from TC Cup to Sam Maguire is narrow and the gap in standards is widening all the time.

If only antrim could win division 3 next year...

Do you think the TC is widening it though? Funny I think Down and now Kildare have basically had the boot up the arse they needed because they should be better than they are. Westmeath are a funny one - they seem to have lost a few and are about yo yo level. I thought they were unlucky in the league but then if you want to be in the sam maguire you would need to be beating wicklow.

Clare were whipping boys this year. You have the likes of derry having to play dublin galway and armagh and then teams in clare's group just needed to beat clare to go through. Something has got to give there.

Here there will be people on here criticising Antrim for not winning Division 3. Even if Geezer left Armagh and went to Antrim he'd do well to win Division 3 from Division 4.

[The Boy Wonder]

NFL Division 3 Champions and Runners-up

2022       
Louth         Sam Maguire   
Limerick     Sam Maguire

2023
Cavan           Tailteann    Munster Finalist Clare take Sam Maguire place
Fermanagh    Tailteann    Connacht Finalist Sligo take Sam Maguire place

2024
Westmeath    Sam Maguire
Down            Tailteann    Munster Finalist Clare take Sam Maguire place

2025
Offaly        Tailteann    Munster Finalist Clare take Sam Maguire place
Kildare       Tailteann    2024 Tailteann Champions Down take Sam Maguire place


In 2024 Cavan qualified for Sam Maguire and retained their Sam Maguire status in 2025.

In 2024 Fermanagh were relegated from Division 2 and remained in Tailteann Cup since.

In last 3 years only one of six counties, Westmeath in 2024, advanced to the Sam Maguire Cup based on NFL position.

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.

The 2 teams promoted from Division 3 should automatically qualify for that year's Sam Maguire Cup.

[SaffronSports]

NFL Division 3 Champions and Runners-up

2022       
Louth         Sam Maguire   
Limerick     Sam Maguire

2023
Cavan           Tailteann    Munster Finalist Clare take Sam Maguire place
Fermanagh    Tailteann    Connacht Finalist Sligo take Sam Maguire place

2024
Westmeath    Sam Maguire
Down            Tailteann    Munster Finalist Clare take Sam Maguire place

2025
Offaly        Tailteann    Munster Finalist Clare take Sam Maguire place
Kildare       Tailteann    2024 Tailteann Champions Down take Sam Maguire place


In 2024 Cavan qualified for Sam Maguire and retained their Sam Maguire status in 2025.

In 2024 Fermanagh were relegated from Division 2 and remained in Tailteann Cup since.

In last 3 years only one of six counties, Westmeath in 2024, advanced to the Sam Maguire Cup based on NFL position.

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.

The 2 teams promoted from Division 3 should automatically qualify for that year's Sam Maguire Cup.

Biggest takeaway from all of that is Clare have some record in Munster, until they play Kerry obviously.

[Milltown Row2]

"Thems the Rules" and it's the same qualification criteria for next year's system.

Maybe you might explain the rules to Milltown Row2 - he seems to think that Kildare & Offaly will be in Sam next year.
Not necessarily so - if the are both relegated from NFL Div2 then then will play in Tailteann Cup (of course Kildare may qualify for Sam by winning this year's Tailteann Cup.

Take a scenario where Antrim & Laois top Division 3 next year. They too could well be denied a place in 2026 Sam Maguire and then be relegated the following year meaning never getting opportunity to play in Sam Maguire.

The door from TC Cup to Sam Maguire is narrow and the gap in standards is widening all the time.

If Offaly and Kildare stay in Div 2 they are, and if they reach a provincial final they will also, everything is within their own making. I'm not sure the reasoning of why Clare are getting hammered in all this, this was voted in by the counties at congress, if you aint happy put a detailed motion through your club delegates to bring to the county convention for it to be put to congress via the county delegates

 

[The Boy Wonder]

If Offaly and Kildare stay in Div 2 they are, and if they reach a provincial final they will also, everything is within their own making. I'm not sure the reasoning of why Clare are getting hammered in all this, this was voted in by the counties at congress, if you aint happy put a detailed motion through your club delegates to bring to the county convention for it to be put to congress via the county delegates
 

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.

[Sportacus]

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?

[The Boy Wonder]

Meath finished 7th in NFL Division 2 in 2023 but their place in Sam Maguire was taken by Westmeath, winners of Tailteann Cup in 2022.

You might say that Meath were robbed of their place in Sam Maguire in 2023 but of course rules are rules.

In Down's case they have probably underachieved in recent years with the talent at their disposal.