The fourth edition of the Tailteann Cup gets underway this weekend including the final competition under this format.
2022 saw the launch of Tailteann Cup. The 17 teams competing in a straight knock-out competition, partially due to effects of Covid-19 whose full restrictions were lifted just four months earlier.
The 2023 competition onwards mirrored the All-Ireland championship with group stages, preliminary quarter-finals, et all. However, as the Sam Maguire (All-Ireland) cup changes so too does the Tailteann Cup.
Attending the Tailteann Cup launch in Croke Park last Tuesday, I found it interesting that the assembled captains seemed to favour this current format.
Unlike its big brother, the Sam Maguire, New York’s entry at the preliminary quarter-final stages adds jeopardy. The lack of jeopardy causing a change of format in the Sam Maguire cup for 2026.
The current format owes some credence to the super-8 format ran from 2018-2019. Or to give its official title, the All-Ireland quarter-final group stage.
The two year experiment didn’t go down well with Gaelic football fans. The top two in each group advanced to the semi-final, the bottom two went home.
Alas from the two year experiment, the total number of dead rubbers was too high. Of the eight eliminated teams, 62% had nothing to play for in their final game.
To counter this the new group stage format allows three of the four teams to progress. Now there is too little jeopardy when playing for Sam Maguire.
Indeed, there is an exception in the Tailteann Cup, New York. New York’s inclusion had to be worked in some way, so a bye to the second round or the “GAA only term” preliminary quarter-finals was used.
This has been beneficial to the Tailteann Cup as only three of the third placed teams can progress.
Tipperary and Waterford exited on score difference
Hence, total points, score difference, points scored and goals scored all come into play.
Tipperary and Waterford have both been shown the door on score difference. The players seem to like it. However, you see, the suits have to have the same format across the board, so out goes this format.
This is the usual case where the suits make the call, but the suits might not be watching or interested.
The reality is the smaller counties need the extra games. Wasn’t that always the case? Wasn’t that the reason why the Tailteann Cup was founded?
You have to question why, the men from Dublin and Kerry should have a say in how division four teams conclude their season in a different competition.
Since 2001 and the introduction of the backdoor, we’ve had this medalling with decisions made by suits who are not impacted.
We had the backdoor from 2001 to 2006. From 2007-2008 we had backdoor minus eight! Where the eight division four teams played in the ill-fated Tommy Murphy cup and not in the championship.
2009-2013 was back to the back-door. 2014-2017 saw a grading of the backdoor teams into pot A & B. 2018-2019 saw a return to the backdoor, but with the addition of the super-8.
The covid years of 2020 and 21 saw a return to the pre-2001 straight knock-out championship.
2022 saw the introduction of the Tailteann Cup but with the introduction of two back-door rounds in the Sam Maguire. 2023-25 saw the group phases.
Thus 2026 will see the eighth format change in 25-years or the fourth since 2020!
Confused? I’m not surprised. It seems to be the GAA’s target to change and confuse.
Is the imperfect, the perfect competition though? Not all tournaments need the same format! Somethings are best left alone.
