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Tailteann Cup: Right To Scrap Group Stage?

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Replying To ohwow:  "Not at all, we know our place in the scheme of things, but it isn't being helped by being kept from the top table.

Why not two chances in an all ireland qualifier in comparison to a teacup competition. Only 3 or 4 teams can win the all Ireland at most anyway so what harm is it"
Agreed. If Leitrim can work with Cavan, Down, Westmeath and other counties on bringing a motion to Congress. Needs 60% of the vote to bring back the qualifiers is some form.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9704 - 29/04/2026 14:53:24    2669780

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Replying To ohwow:  "Not at all, we know our place in the scheme of things, but it isn't being helped by being kept from the top table.

Why not two chances in an all ireland qualifier in comparison to a teacup competition. Only 3 or 4 teams can win the all Ireland at most anyway so what harm is it"
Second chances really favour the strongest counties. They might be caught once, but seldom twice or 3 times.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19448 - 29/04/2026 15:01:47    2669781

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Replying To legendzxix:  "Agreed. If Leitrim can work with Cavan, Down, Westmeath and other counties on bringing a motion to Congress. Needs 60% of the vote to bring back the qualifiers is some form."
Indeed and reward teams that win their league divisions with money towards a holiday or some such incentive, the GAA can afford to do it for four different teams. This idea that playing in a three quarter empty Croke Park for a teacup final is a reward in itself is becoming increasingly outdated i think.

ohwow (Leitrim) - Posts: 172 - 29/04/2026 15:26:45    2669799

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Replying To systematic:  "More chances for a few more games is probably there but currently no calendar space.

I think possibly it's worth changing the league qualification where only guaranteed places are 6 Div 1 teams, 2 promoted Div 2 teams and 2 relegated Div 1 teams, and everyone else has to do seeded playoffs for their spot.

As an aside I wonder why teacup didn't bother with seeding this year they could have gone with league standing and just had the Team 16 in the top group."
There's plenty of space if they want it, usually August before club championships start in this neck of the woods, that is 12 weekends away. I'm sure a lot of other counties are similar.

ohwow (Leitrim) - Posts: 172 - 29/04/2026 15:30:28    2669801

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QUALIFIER ROUND 1
The weekend of the Ulster and Leinster finals, could be for Qualifier Round 1: 16 or 18 counties playing off to make Qualifier Round 2, 16 or 18 is depending on whether the Tailteann winner has made their final.
QUALIFIER ROUND 2
The weekend after then could be for Qualifier Round 2: 14 or 16 counties playing off for 7 or 8 qualifier spots, 14 or 16 is depending on whether the Tailteann winner has made their final.
ALL IRELAND ROUND 1
The weekend after then that the Ulster and Leinster finalists currently will enter All Ireland Round 1 has no provincial hurling. All eight round 1 games could be played on that weekend.

2 knockout qualifying rounds is easily integrated to the current timeline. Up to the counties involved to bring the motion to Congress!

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9704 - 29/04/2026 16:51:24    2669826

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14. CAVAN - 7th league qualifier spot.
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15. Down - Tailteann Cup participant
16. Wexford - Tailteann Cup participant
17. KILDARE - Tailteann Cup winners and 16th All Ireland spot.
18. Offaly - Tailteann Cup participant
19. WESTMEATH - Leinster finalist and seeded in Round 1 draw.
20. Laois - Tailteann Cup participant...

Tough on Down to miss out on the All Ireland but one of Cavan, Down, Kildare and Westmeath were always likely to miss out. Kildare had their golden ticket from last year's Tailteann. Someone had to miss out. Below 5th place in Division 2 is asking for trouble.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9704 - 03/05/2026 17:33:53    2670668

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Replying To ohwow:  "There's plenty of space if they want it, usually August before club championships start in this neck of the woods, that is 12 weekends away. I'm sure a lot of other counties are similar."
Grand if you dont have much of either or both of a club hurling or club football championship. You dont need as many weekends.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19448 - 03/05/2026 19:29:09    2670721

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Replying To ohwow:  "There's plenty of space if they want it, usually August before club championships start in this neck of the woods, that is 12 weekends away. I'm sure a lot of other counties are similar."
Yes. As Viking points out above - grand in a county where you don't have much of a hurling championship, e.g. Leitrim, where for the past couple of years, just two teams have entered at senior level and the only match to be played is a final.

Places like Sligo, Fermanagh and Longford don't need too many weekends for club hurling either.

Not so grand for Tailteann Cup counties where several weekends are needed for both club hurling and football championships - e.g. Clare, Offaly, Limerick, Tipperary, and ourselves here in Wexford.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3563 - 05/05/2026 14:07:24    2671106

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Anyone going to start a "Tailteann Cup 2026" thread?

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9704 - 05/05/2026 14:42:40    2671123

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Round 1
Clare Vs Offaly - Prediction Clare
Wexford Vs Limerick - Prediction Wexford
Sligo Vs Tipperary - Prediction Sligo
Carlow Vs Antrim - Prediction Carlow
Laois Vs Wicklow - Prediction Wicklow
Waterford Vs London - Prediction London
Fermanagh Vs Longford - Prediction Fermanagh
Down Vs Leitrim - Prediction Down

Jack L (None) - Posts: 3207 - 05/05/2026 15:05:58    2671138

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