The name 'Tailteann' comes from the ancient Tailteann Games.
The title has been won by 4 different counties, none of whom have won the title more than once; as the prize for the winner is automatic entry to the following year's All-Ireland SFC, it is not possible to defend a title. The all-time record-holders are therefore Down, Meath, Westmeath and Kildare, who have won the cup on 1 occasion each. Kildare are the current title holders, defeating Limerick by 1-24 to 2-19 in the 2025 final. Down are also the only team to appear in the final twice, finishing as runner-up in the 2023 showpiece, before victory in 2024.
History
Creation
For the history of a similar competition that existed before 2022, see Tommy Murphy Cup.
Following ongoing one-sided matches in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship between counties of differing standards, the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) began considering the addition of a tournament for those counties that were eliminated in the early stages of their respective provincial championship. At a national conference in November 2018, the GAA found broad support for the introduction of this championship and canvassed options for its potential structure and future inclusion within the annual calendar.[1] One year later at a specially convened congress, 76% of delegates formally approved of the second-tier tournament.[2] The tournament was named the Tailteann Cup in February 2020, and it was intended it would hold its inaugural season that year.[3] However, its introduction was ultimately delayed until 2022, due the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games over that period.
In 2023, following the success of the inaugural cup – which had been a straight knock-out competition – a group stage was introduced.
Team changes
19 county teams have participated in at least one edition of the Tailteann Cup. Fifteen have been ever-presents. in 2023, Limerick and Meath became the most recent counties to make their debut in the Cup
Format history
2022
The first Tailteann Cup was a knockout tournament whereby once a team was defeated they were eliminated from the championship. The pairings were drawn by location. Each match was played as a single leg.
Up to 17 teams compete in the cup. The teams are drawn from the bottom 16 rankings from that season's National Football League, plus New York. However, if a team in this position qualifies for the final of its provincial championship, that team continues to compete in the same year's All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and does not compete in the Tailteann Cup.[4]
The teams that compete in the Tailteann Cup are split into four round-robin groups, and the top two teams from each group proceed to one of four knockout quarter-finals matches, followed by semi-finals and the final.[4][5] The Winners of the four Quarter Final pairings qualify for the semi-finals, with pairings decided via an open draw. The final of the Tailteann Cup is currently scheduled three weeks before the All-Ireland Football Final, and is staged at Croke Park in Dublin.[6]
For the inaugural 2022 Tailteann Cup, the format was altered to a straight-knockout competition with Round 1 and the Quarter Finals organised on a geographical basis with Northern and Southern Sections. From 2023 onwards, there are scheduled to be no North/South sections.[7]
Unlike the contest for the Sam Maguire Cup, London and New York are permitted to meet each other in the contest for the Tailteann Cup.
Tailteann Cup group stage
Group stage (16 teams remaining)
Group stage (24 matches): The 16 counties who did not qualify for the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship group stage make up the group stage teams. Teams are divided into four groups of four. The group winners advance to the quarter-finals and the group runners-up and 3 out of 4 group third placed teams advance to the preliminary quarter-finals. Five teams are eliminated at this stage while twelve teams advance to the All-Ireland knockout-stage
Tailteann Cup knockout stage
Preliminary quarter-finals (12 teams remaining)
Preliminary quarter-finals (4 matches): The second-placed teams from the group stage play the 3 best third-placed teams from the group stage and New York. Teams who met in the provincial finals are kept apart in separate preliminary quarter-finals. Four teams are eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the quarter-finals.
Quarter-finals (Eight teams remaining)
Quarter-finals (4 matches): The winners of the preliminary quarter-finals join the first placed teams in the group stage. Teams who met in the provincial finals are kept apart in separate quarter-finals. Four teams are eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the semi-finals.
Semi-finals (Four teams remaining)
Semi-finals (2 matches): The winners of the quarter-finals make up the semi-final pairings. Teams who met in the provincial finals are kept apart in separate semi-finals. Two teams are eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the final.
Final
Final (1 match): The two winners of the semi-finals contest this game. Winning team are declared Tailteann Cup champions.
Group stage, preliminary quarter-finals and quarter-finals
Fixtures in the three group stage rounds of the cup are played at the home ground of one of the two teams. Each team is guaranteed at least one home game.
Semi-finals and final
The Tailteann Cup semi-finals and final are played at Croke Park.
The number of years that each county team has played in the Tailteann Cup (between 2022 and 2025). A total of 20 county teams have competed in at least one season of the Tailteann Cup. The county teams in bold participated in the 2025 Tailteann Cup.
13 counties have the record number of consecutive participations in the Tailteann Cup, taking part in the all three editions of the competition.
Winning other trophies
Although not an officially recognised achievement, no teams have ever achieved the distinction of winning the Tailteann Cup and their respective Division in the National Football League.
Defending champions are promoted to the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in the following year and a number of teams maintained that status in the year beyond that. These are:
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2025 Tailteann Cup 
Westmeath, 
Meath, 
Down, 
Kildare (1 titles)
