2023 Tailteann Cup final

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Event2023 Tailteann Cup

Date15 July 2023

Event

2023 Tailteann Cup

Down	Meath

0–14 (14)	2–13 (19)

Date

15 July 2023

Venue

Croke Park, Dublin

Man of the Match

Jack Flynn (Meath)

Referee

Noel Mooney (Cavan)

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The 2023 Tailteann Cup final was the second final of the Tailteann Cup and the culmination of the 2023 Tailteann Cup, the GAA's second-tier Gaelic football competition for county teams. The match was played at Croke Park in Dublin on 15 July 2023, between Meath and Down.^[1]^[2] The match was played prior to the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-final between Dublin and Monaghan. It was televised live on RTÉ2 as part of The Sunday Game, presented by Joanne Cantwell from the Croke Park studio.

Meath won the match on a scoreline of 2–13 to 0–14.^[3]

Meath

13 May 2023 Group stage	Meath	1–19 – 0–11	Tipperary	Navan
18:30 IST (UTC+1)
	Gls: Aaron Lynch 1 Pts: Aaron Lynch 3 (1f, 1m), Jordan Morris 4, Matthew Costello 3 (2f), Thomas O'Reilly 3, Jack O'Connor 2, Jack Flynn 1 (1f), Conor Gray 1, Donal Keogan 1, Donal Lenihan 1	Report	Pts: Jack Kennedy 3 (2 '45), Michael O'Reilly 2 (1f, 1 '45), Steven O'Brien 2 (1m), Mark Russell 2 (0–1f), Liam McGrath 1, Colman Kennedy 1	Referee: Brendan Griffin

20 May 2023 Group stage	Waterford	1–14 – 3–17	Meath	Dungarvan
18:30 IST (UTC+1)
	Gls: Darragh Corcoran 0–8 (0–7f), Jason Curry 1–0, Conor Murray 0–2, Dermot Ryan 0–2, Tom O'Connell 0–1 (0–1f), Jordan O'Sullivan 0–1	Report	Gls: Matthew Costello 1–5 (0–3f), Aaron Lynch 0–6 (0–2f), Donal Lenihan 1–2 (0–1f, 0–1m), Jordan Morris 1–2 (0–1m), Eoghan Frayne 0–1, James McEntee 0–1	Referee: Sean Lonergan

3 June 2023 Group stage	Meath	1–11 – 1–9	Down	Dublin
13:00 IST (UTC+1)
	Gls: Jordan Morris 1–3 (1–0 pen, 0–1m), Daithi McGowan 0–2 (0–1f, 0–1 '45), James McEntee 0–2, Jack Flynn 0–1 (0–1f), Donal Lenihan 0–1 (0–1f), Jack O'Connor 0–1, Matthew Costello 0–1	Report	Gls: Pat Havern 0–5 (0–5f), Odhran Murdock 1–0, Liam Kerr 0–2 (0–1f), Niall Kane 0–1 (0–1 '45), Daniel Guinness 0–1	Referee: Fergal Kelly

17 June 2023 Quarter-final	Meath	2–23 – 0–12	Wexford	Navan
16:00 IST (UTC+1)
	Gls: Aaron Lynch 1, Cathal Hickey 1 Pts: Jordan Morris 6 (1m), James McEntee 6, Aaron Lynch 2, Matthew Costello 4 (2f), Daithi McGowan 3, Jack Flynn 1, Eoghan Frayne 1	Report	Pts: Mark Rossiter 2 (2f), Ben Brosnan 2 (2f), Eoghan Nolan 2, Eoin Porter 1, Glen Malone 1, Liam Coleman 1, Paraic Hughes 1, Richard Waters 1, Jonathan Bealin 1	Referee: Brendan Griffin

25 June 2023 Semi-final	Meath	2–16 – 2–14	Antrim	Dublin
14:00 IST (UTC+1)
	Gls: Jordan Morris 1, Aaron Lynch 1 Pts: Sean Brennan; Adam O'Neill, Ronan Ryan, Harry O'Higgins; Donal Keogan, Padraic Harnan, Sean Coffey; Jack Flynn 2, Conor Gray 1; Jack O'Connor 1, James McEntee 1, Cathal Hickey 1; Jordan Morris 4, Mathew Costello 4, 1f, Aaron Lynch 2, 1m	Report	Gls: Patrick McBride 1, Dominic McEnhill 1 pen Pts: Michael Byrne 2 (1f, 1 '45); Ronan Boyle, Peter Healy, Eoghan McCabe; Patrick McCormick, Declan Lynch, Dermot McAleese 2; Cathal Hynds, Joseph Finnegan; Ruairi McCann (Creggan) 1, Adam Loughran 3, Marc Jordan; Patrick McBride 1, Ruairi McCann (Aghagallon) 1, Dominic McEnhill 3 (2f)	Referee: Barry Judge

Down

13 May 2023 Group stage	Down	2–14 – 1–6	Waterford	Newry
18:00 IST (UTC+1)
	Gls: Pat Havern 0–5 (0–2f, 0–1m), Andrew Gilmore 0–4 (0–2f), Eamon Brown 1–0, Odhran Murdock 1–0, Donagh McAleenan 0–2, Anthony Morgan 0–1, Shealan Johnston 0–1, Eugene Branagan 0–1	Report	Gls: Conor Murray 1–0, Jason Curry 0–2 (0–2f), Darragh Corcoran 0–2, Jason Gleeson 0–1 (0–1f), Dermot Ryan 0–1	Referee: Barry Cassidy

21 May 2023 Group stage	Tipperary	0–6 – 2–18	Down	Thurles
13:45 IST (UTC+1)
	Gls: Jack Kennedy 0–4 (0–1f), Sean O'Connor 0–2	Report	Gls: Pat Havern 0–6 (0–5f), Shealan Johnston 1–1 (0–1f), Odhran Murdock 1–0, Danny Magill 0–3, Eamon Brown 0–2 (0–2f), Ceilum Doherty 0–2, Andrew Gilmore 0–1 (0–1f), Conor Francis 0–1, Ryan Johnston 0–1, Ross Carr 0–1	Referee: Thomas Murphy

3 June 2023 Group stage	Meath	1–11 – 1–9	Down	Dublin
13:00 IST (UTC+1)
	Gls: Jordan Morris 1–3 (1–0 pen, 0–1m), Daithi McGowan 0–2 (0–1f, 0–1 '45), James McEntee 0–2, Jack Flynn 0–1 (0–1f), Donal Lenihan 0–1 (0–1f), Jack O'Connor 0–1, Matthew Costello 0–1	Report	Gls: Pat Havern 0–5 (0–5f), Odhran Murdock 1–0, Liam Kerr 0–2 (0–1f), Niall Kane 0–1 (0–1 '45), Daniel Guinness 0–1	Referee: Fergal Kelly

10 June 2023 Preliminary quarter-final	Down	1–20 – 1–12	Longford	Newry
19:00 IST (UTC+1)
	Gls: Danny Magill 1 Pts: Pat Havern 6 (2f), Rory Mason 3 (0–2f), Andrew Gilmore 3 (1f), Ross Carr 2 (1m), Eugene Branagan 2, Patrick McCarthy 1, Ceilum Doherty 1, Donagh McAleenan 1, Liam Kerr 1	Report	Gls: Joe Hagan 1 Pts: Joe Hagan 3, Dylan Farrell 2 (1f, 1 '45), Darragh Doherty 2 (1m), Keelin McGann 2, Patrick Fox 1, Ryan Moffett 1, Dessie Reynolds 1	Referee: Anthony Nolan

17 June 2023 Quarter-final	Cavan	0–15 – 1–17	Down	Cavan
17:15 IST (UTC+1)
	Pts: Oisin Brady 8 (4f, 2m), Padraig Faulkner 2, Gearóid McKiernan 1 (1f), Oisín Kiernan 1, Cian Madden 1, Tiarnan Madden 1, Brandon Boylan 1	Report	Gls: Danny Magill 1 Pts: Pat Havern 5 (2f, 1m), Rory Mason 4 (1f), Liam Kerr 4, Danny Magill 1, Patrick McCarthy 1, Ryan Johnston 1, Shane Annett 1	Referee: Seamus Mulhare

25 June 2023 Semi-final	Down	8–16 – 2–12	Laois	Dublin
16:00 IST (UTC+1)
	Gls: Danny Magill 2, Pat Havern 1, Liam Kerr 3, Rory Mason 1, Odhrán Murdock 1 Pts: Niall Kane 1 ('45); Míceal Rooney, Ceilum Doherty 2 (1m); Daniel Guinness, Pat Havern 3; Liam Kerr 2, Ryan Johnston 1, Eugene Branagan 3; Rory Mason 1 (1f); Odhrán Murdock 1, Shealan Johnston		Gls: Mark Barry 2 (1 pen) Pts: Killian Roche 1 ('45); Trevor Collins, Robert Pigott, Seán Greene; Pádraig Kirwan, Mark Timmons, Patrick O’Sullivan; Kieran Lillis, Damon Larkin; James Finn, Paul Kingston 1, Mark Barry 6 (4f, 1m); Evan O'Carroll 1; Eoin Lowry 2 (1m), Colm Murphy	Referee: Barry Tiernan

Pre-match

As the match was played prior to the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-final between Dublin and Monaghan, the demand for tickets for the final was high. Some Meath fans expressed their frustrations online at their inability to get a ticket through general release.^[4]

On 7 July, Cavan's Noel Mooney was named as referee for the final.^[5]

Match

Summary

Down started much the brighter of the two, their eagerness to get the game going reflected in a four points to one lead, but a fortuitous Meath goal on 17 minutes changed the complexion of the game. Jack Flynn lobbed a shot in from distance with a point in mind, but the ball pounded off the upright and dropped in front of goal where it deflected off Ronan Jones and into the net.

Matthew Costello's second pointed free for Meath left them a point ahead approaching the interval but Liam Kerr levelled it up at 1–3 to 0–6 when he blasted over a great goal chance for Down. Down were reduced to 14 in the 29th minute when Ceilum Doherty was shown a black card for a pull down.

Back to back points from Down goalkeeper Niall Kane amounted to a solid start to the second-half for the favourites, but Cathal Hickey and Jones cancelled those scores out and Jack O'Connor, who was only on as a sub, put Meath into a 1–6 to 0–8 lead.

Flynn was the Man of the Match who nudged Meath to victory with four more terrific scores for the Royals, all coming in a crucial period around the hour mark as they set the seal on victory. O'Connor snatched Meath's second goal in the dying moments after a turnover in the Down defence, summing up the excellent work of the Meath backs.^[6]^[7]^[8]

Details

15 July 2023

15:00 IST (UTC+1)

Down	0–14 – 2–13	Meath
Pat Havern 0–4 (0–3f), Niall Kane 0–2 (0–1f, 0–1 '45), Liam Kerr 0–2, Ryan Johnston 0–2, Ceilum Doherty 0–1, Odhran Murdock 0–1, Shealan Johnston 0–1, Andrew Gilmore 0–1	Report	Jack O'Connor 1–2, Jack Flynn 0–4, Ronan Jones 1–1, Matthew Costello 0–3 (0–2f), Cathal Hickey 0–2, Jordan Morris 0–1

Croke Park, Dublin

Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan)

Down

Meath


1	Niall Kane
2	Patrick McCarthy		60'
3	Pierce Laverty (c)
4	Anthony Doherty	70+4'
5	Miceal Rooney
6	Ceilum Doherty	29' to 39'
7	Danny Magill		59'
8	Daniel Guinness		63'
9	Odhran Murdock
10	Shealan Johnston		56'
11	Liam Kerr
12	Rory Mason		43'
13	Eugene Branagan
14	Pat Havern
15	Ryan Johnston
Substitutes:
16	John O'Hare
17	Shane Annett		43'
18	Ryan McEvoy		63'
19	Ross Carr
20	Patrick Branagan		60'
21	Donagh McAleenan		56'
22	Gerard Collins
23	Andrew Gilmore		59'
24	Conor Poland
25	Peter Fegan
26	Ryan Magill
Manager:
Conor Laverty


1	Seán Brennan
2	Adam O'Neill
3	Ronan Ryan
17	Ciaran Caulfield		57'
5	Donal Keogan (c)
6	Padraic Harnan
7	Sean Coffey
8	Ronan Jones	25'
9	Conor Gray
19	Cathal Hickey	40'	69'
11	James McEntee		53'
20	Jack Flynn
13	Jordan Morris		66'
14	Mathew Costello
15	Aaron Lynch		47'
Substitutes:
16	Harry Hogan
4	Harry O'Higgins		57'
10	Daithí McGowan		69'
12	Jack O'Connor		47'
18	Cillian O'Sullivan		53'
21	Eoghan Frayne
22	Michael Flood
23	Donal Lenihan		66'
24	Diarmuid Moriarty
25	Keith Curtis
26	Ben Wyer
Manager:
Colm O'Rourke

Man of the Match:
Jack Flynn (Meath)

v t e Tailteann Cup
Participants (2024)	Antrim Carlow Down Fermanagh Kildare Laois Leitrim Limerick London Longford New York Offaly Sligo Tipperary Waterford Wexford Wicklow
Seasons	2022 2023 2024
Finals	2022 2023 2024

v t e Down county football team matches
All-Ireland SFC finals	1960 1961 1968 1991 1994 2010
Ulster SFC finals	1940 1942 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1971 1973 1974 1975 1978 1981 1986 1991 1994 1996 1999 2003 2012 2017
Tailteann Cup finals	2023 2024

v t e Meath county football team matches
All-Ireland SFC finals	1895 1939 1949 1951 1952 1954 1966 1967 1970 1987 1988 1990 1991 1996 1999 2001
Leinster SFC finals	1894 1895 1896 1911 1923 1930 1939 1940 1947 1949 1950 1951 1952 1954 1955 1964 1966 1967 1970 1973 1974 1976 1977 1984 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2001 2010 2012 2013 2014 2019 2020
Tailteann Cup finals	2023

2023 Tailteann Cup final

Meath

Down

Pre-match

Match

Summary

Details

Post-match

References

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