2026 Tailteann Cup
Fifth edition of the Tailteann Cup
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The 2026 Tailteann Cup is the fifth edition of the Tailteann Cup, a Gaelic football competition contested by the seventeen county teams that did not qualify for the last 16 of the 2026 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.[1]
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Level | Tier 2 |
| Year | 2026 |
| Trophy | Tailteann Cup |
| Date | 9 May – 11 July |
| Teams | 17 |
| Qualify for | 2027 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship |
| Other | |
| Matches played | 28 |
Kildare, the winners of the 2025 tournament, were not eligible to defend their title as winning the cup earnt them automatic entry into the 2026 All-Ireland Championship.[2] Down, winners of the 2024 Tailteann Cup and 2026 NFL Division Three champions, return to the Tailteann Cup after one season as the only former champions in the competition.
Format
The draw for the 2026 Tailteann Cup was made on 27 April 2026.[3]
Seventeen teams will compete in the competition (including New York who enter at the preliminary quarter final stage), namely those that did not reach the final of their provincial championship and were not among the seven highest-ranked teams at the end of the 2026 National Football League.[4]
- In round 1, the sixteen teams (not including New York) are drawn to play one opponent in an open draw.
- The 8 winners progress to Round 2A
- The 8 losers go to Round 2B
- In round 2B, the eight Round 1 losers play each other.
- The 4 winners progress to Round 3
- The 4 losers are eliminated
- In round 2A, the eight Round 1 winners play each other.
- 3 of the winners progress to the quarter-finals
- 1 of the winners (chosen at random) progresses to the preliminary quarter-final
- The 4 losers go to Round 3
- In round 3, the four Round 2A losers play the four Round 2B winners.
- The 4 winners progress to the quarter-finals
- The 4 losers are eliminated.
- In the preliminary quarter-final, one Round 2A winner plays New York at home (unless it is London, in which case a neutral venue in Ireland will be used.)
- The winner progresses to the quarter-finals
- The loser is eliminated.
- In the quarter-finals, the four Round 3 winners play the three Round 2A winners and the preliminary quarter-final winner.
- The 4 winners progress to the semi-finals
- The 4 losers are eliminated.
- In the semi-finals, the four quarter-final winners are drawn against each other.
- The 2 winners progress to the Tailteann Cup final
- The 2 losers are eliminated.
- In the Tailteann Cup final, the two semi-final winners play each other at Croke Park.
- The winners receive the Tailteann Cup and automatically qualify for the 2027 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
- The finalists are eliminated.[4]
Teams
Seventeen teams compete in the 2026 Tailteann Cup.
| County | Tailteann | Provincial | All-Ireland | Position in 2025 | Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | 1951 | — | Preliminary quarter-finals | 5th | |
| — | 1944 | — | Preliminary quarter-finals | 5th | |
| — | 1992 | — | — | 1st | |
| 2024 | 1994 | 1994 | — | 4th | |
| — | — | — | Semi-finals | 5th | |
| — | 2003 | — | Preliminary quarter-finals | 5th | |
| — | 1994 | — | Group stage | 5th | |
| — | 1896 | 1896 | Final | 4th | |
| — | — | — | Group stage | 5th | |
| — | 1968 | — | Group stage | 5th | |
| — | — | — | Preliminary quarter-finals | 5th | |
| — | 1997 | 1982 | Quarter-finals | 5th | |
| — | 2007 | — | Quarter-finals | 4th | |
| — | 2020 | 1920 | Group stage | 5th | |
| — | 1898 | — | Group stage | 5th | |
| — | 1945 | 1918 | Quarter-finals | 5th | |
| — | — | — | Semi-finals | 5th |
Fixtures and results
All throw-in times are UTC+1 (Irish Standard Time or British Summer Time).
Round 1
The draw for round 1 was made on 27 April 2026.[3][5]
| 9 May 2026 Round 1 | Clare |
1-14 (17) – (20) 1-17 | Ennis | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16:00 | (HT: 0-4 - 0-9) | Venue: Cusack Park | |||
Pts: Cormac Murray 1-2 (1tp), Brian McNamara 0-3, Aaron Griffin 0-3, Mark McInerney 0-2 (tp), Alan Sweeney 0-1, Cillian Brennan 0-1, Fionn Kelleher 0-1, Joe Rafferty 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Dylan Hyland 0-9 (2tp, 1tpf), Shane Tierney 1-0, Marcas Dalton 0-2, Keith O'Neill 0-2, Harry Plunkett 0-2, Nathan Poland 0-1, Jordan Hayes 0-1 |
Referee: Brendan Griffin (Kerry)
|
| 9 May 2026 Round 1 | Wexford |
2-19 (25) – (14) 1-11 | Wexford | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:00 | (HT: 0-12 - 1-3) | Venue: Chadwicks Wexford Park | |||
Pts: Ben Brosnan 0-6 (2tp), Darragh Brooks 0-3 (1tp), Liam O'Connor 1-0, Michael Kinsella 1-0, Páraic Hughes 0-2, Tom Byrne 0-2, Seán Nolan 0-2, Glen Malone 0-1, Cathal Kehoe 0-1, Mark Rossiter 0-1, Robbie Brooks 0-1 |
Report | Pts: James Naughton 0-4 (2tpf), Barry Coleman 0-3 (1tp), Mark McCarthy 1-0, Eliah Riordan 0-2 (tp), Rory O'Brien 0-1, Cillian Fahy 0-1 |
Referee: Séamus Mulhare (Laois)
|
| 10 May 2026 Round 1 | Sligo |
1-12 (15) – (17) 0-17 | Sligo | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:45 | (HT: 1-4 - 0-11) | Venue: Markievicz Park | |||
Pts: Niall Murphy 0-4 (1f), Pat Spillane 0-4 (2tp), Lee Deignan 1-0, Gavin Gorman 0-1, Darragh Cummins 0-1, Alan McLoughlin 0-1 (f), Shane Deignan 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Seán O'Connor 0-6 (2tp), Charlie King 0-2, Micheál Freaney 0-2 (tp), Cian Smith 0-2 (1f), Daithí Hogan 0-2 (tp), Emmet Moloney 0-1, Joe Higgins 0-1, Eoin Craddock 0-1 |
Referee: Kieran Eannetta (Tyrone)
|
| 10 May 2026 Round 1 | Carlow |
2-26 (32) – (35) 6-17 (a.e.t.) |
Carlow | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13:30 | (HT: 0-7 - 2-10) (FT: 2-22 - 4-16) |
Venue: Dr Cullen Park | |||
Pts: Lee Walker 1-4 (1pen, 3f), Conor Crowley 0-6, Padraig Bolger 1-1, Ross Dunphy 0-3, Adam McCarron 0-3 (1tpf), Jamie Clarke 0-2, Chris Blake 0-2, Kyle Nolan 0-2 (tp), John Phiri 0-1, Paddy McDonnell 0-1, Liam Gavin 0-1 (f) |
Report | Pts: Pat Shivers 1-5 (1tp, 1f), Ronan Boyle 2-0, Ryan McQuillan 1-3, Dominic McEnhill 0-4 (1tpf), Benen Kelly 1-0, Eoghan McCabe 1-0, Niall Burns 0-3, Joseph Finnegan 0-1, Tomás McCann 0-1 |
Referee: Conor Dourneen (Cavan)
|
| 10 May 2026 Round 1 | Laois |
1-23 (26) – (19) 0-19 | Portlaoise | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:00 | (HT: 1-15 - 0-6) | Venue: O'Moore Park | |||
Pts: Evan O'Carroll 1-6 (1tpf), Matthew Byron 0-4 (1tpf), Ronan Coffey 0-3 (1tp), Pa Kirwan 0-3, Paul Kingston 0-2 (2f), Kevin Swayne 0-2, Daragh Galvin 0-1, Rob Tyrrell 0-1, Cian Nolan 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Mark Jackson 0-6 (3tpf), Oisin McGraynor 0-3 (2f), Eoin Darcy 0-3 (3f), Dean Healy 0-2 (tp), Eoin Murtagh 0-2 (tp), Mark Kenny 0-2, Joe Prendergast 0-1 |
Referee: Barry Tiernan (Dublin)
|
| 10 May 2026 Round 1 | Waterford |
0-10 (10) – (27) 5-12 | Dungarvan | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:00 | (HT: 0-4 - 4-1) | Venue: Fraher Field | |||
Pts: Alan Dunwoody 0-4 (2f), Michael O'Brien 0-3 (3f), Aaron Ryan 0-2, Stephen Curry 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Shay Rafter 1-2, Joe McGill 1-1, James Davis 1-1, David Gouldson 1-1, Finbarr Crowley 1-0, Henry Walsh 0-3 (2f), Kristian Healy 0-1, Liam Gallagher 0-1, Conor O'Donohue 0-1, Ciaran Diver 0-1 |
Referee: Seán Lonergan (Tipperary)
|
| 10 May 2026 Round 1 | Fermanagh |
1-24 (27) – (23) 2-17 | Enniskillen | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15:00 | (HT: 1-9 - 1-10) | Venue: Brewster Park | |||
Pts: Conor Love 1-2, Darragh McGurn 0-4, Mattie McDermott 0-3, Ronan McCaffrey 0-2, Josh Largo Elis 0-2, Seán Cassidy 0-2, Stephen McGullion 0-2 (tp), Ciaran Corrigan 0-2, Shane McGuillion 0-1, Brandon Horan 0-1, Joe McDade 0-1, Garvan Jones 0-1 (f), Oisin Kelm 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Dylan Farrell 1-5 (2tp, 1'45), Matthew Carey 0-4 (1tp), Oisin O'Toole 1-0, Oran Kenny 0-3, Paddy Moran 0-2, Matthew Flynn 0-1, Joseph Hagan 0-1, Daniel Reynolds 0-1 |
Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry)
|
| 16 May 2026 Round 1 | Down |
1-27 (30) – (16) 0-16 | Newry | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:00 | (HT: 0-12 – 0-8) | Venue: Páirc Esler | |||
Pts: Ruairí McCormack 1-3 (1tp), Patrick Havern 0-5 (1tp, 1f), Daniel Guinness 0-4 (1tp), Ceilum Doherty 0-3, Miceal Rooney 0-3, Eamon Brown 0-3, Ronan Burns 0-2 (tpf), Tom Close 0-2, Séamus Loughran 0-1, Odhran Murdock 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Killian Gaffey 0-5 (2tpf, 1'45), Paul Honeyman 0-3, Fergal McLoughlin 0-2, Ben Guckian 0-2 (1f), Oisin McLoughlin 0-2 (tp), Jack Kelly 0-1, Mark Diffey 0-1 |
Referee: Thomas Murphy (Galway)
|
Round 2
The draw was held on 11 May 2026.
| 23 May 2026 Round 2A | London |
1-14 (17) – (32) 1-29 | South Ruislip | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:00 | (HT: 0-07 – 1-11) | Venue: McGovern Park | |||
Pts: Joe McGill 0-5 (1tp, 1f), Shay Rafter 0-3, Ciaran Diver 0-3 (1tp, 1f), Michael O'Reilly 1-0, Henry Freeman 0-1, David Gouldson 0-1, Tighe Barry 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Evan O'Carroll 1-5 (1f), Paul Kingston 0-4 (1tp), Pa Kirwan 0-3 (1tp), Paddy O'Sullivan 0-3, Ronan Coffey 0-1 (1tp), Cian Nolan 0-2 (tp), Killian Roche 0-2 (2f), Simon Fingleton 0-2, Daragh Galvin 0-1, Brian Byrne 0-1, Conor Heffernan 0-1, Kevin Swayne 0-1, Mikie Dempsey 0-1 |
Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford
|
| 23 May 2026 Round 2A | Offaly |
3-22 (31) – (23) 1-20 | Tullamore | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:00 | (HT: 2-13 – 1-11) | Venue: O'Connor Park | |||
Pts: Dylan Hyland 1-11 (1pen, 3tp, 2f), Shane Tierney 1-3, Jordan Hayes 0-5 (2tp), Keith O'Neill 0-3 (1tp), Diarmuid Egan 1-0 |
Report | Pts: Pat Havern 0-5 (1tp, 3f), Pearse McPolin 1-0, Ronan Burns 0-3 (1tpf, 1'45), Shane Annett 0-2, Ceilum Doherty 0-2, Tom Close 0-2, Caolan Mooney 0-1, Daniel Guinness 0-1, Ryan Magill 0-1, Callum Rogers 0-1, John McGeough 0-1, Eamon Brown 0-1 |
Referee: Conor Lane (Cork)
|
| 24 May 2026 Round 2A | Fermanagh |
2-20 (26) – (19) 2-13 | Enniskillen | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13:00 | (HT: 0-12 – 0-05) | Venue: Brewster Park | |||
Pts: Darragh McGurn 0-7 (2tp), Stephen McGullion 2-0, Garvan Jones 0-4 (1f, 1tpf), Conor Love 0-2, Josh Largo Elis 0-2, Conor McGee 0-1, Mattie McDermott 0-1, Ciaran Corrigan 0-1, Conor O'Hanlon 0-1, Ronan McCaffrey 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Seán Ryan 2-0, Ben Brosnan 0-4 (2f), Paraic Hughes 0-3 (1tp), Darragh Brooks 0-1 (f), Glen Malone 0-1, Eoghan Nolan 0-1, Michael Kinsella 0-1, Seán Nolan 0-1 (f), Martin O'Connor 0-1 |
Referee: Kieran Eannetta (Tyrone) TV: GAA+
|
| 24 May 2026 Round 2A | Antrim |
4-12 (24) – (18) 2-12 | Belfast | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15:15 | (HT: 2-06 – 0-04) | Venue: Corrigan Park | |||
Pts: Ryan McQuillan 2-1, Ronan Boyle 1-0, Conor Hand 1-0, Paddy McAleer 0-2, Dominic McEnhill 0-2 (2f), Niall Burns 0-2, Tomas McCann 0-1, Eoghan McCabe 0-1, Marc Jordan 0-1, Tiernan McCormack 0-1, John McNabb 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Seán O'Connor 0-5 (1tpf, 3f), Steven O'Brien 1-1, Joe Higgins 1-0, James Morris 0-1, Paddy Creedon 0-2, Cian Smith 0-1, Paudie Feehan 0-1, Charlie King 0-1 |
Referee: Conor Dourneen (Cavan)
|
| 23 May 2026 Round 2B | Wicklow |
4-17 (29) – (20) 2-14 | Aughrim | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16:00 | (HT: 2-06 – 2-10) | Venue: Echelon Park | |||
Pts: Dean Healy 1-2 (tp), Mark Jackson 0-4 (2tpf), Eoin Murtagh 1-0, Pádraig O'Toole 1-0, Malachy Stone 1-0, Eoin Darcy 0-3 (2f), Jonathan Carlin 0-2, Oisín McGraynor 0-2, Kevin Quinn 0-2, Tom Moran 0-1, Matt Nolan 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Danny Neville 1-3 (1tp), James Naughton 1-2 (1pen, 1f), Cillian Fahy 0-3 (1tp), Tony McCarthy 0-2, Barry Coleman 0-2 (tp), Eliah O'Riordan 0-1, Peter Nash 0-1 (f) |
Referee: Niall Cullen (Fermanagh)
|
| 23 May 2026 Round 2B | Clare |
1-18 (21) – (23) 2-17 | Ennis | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17:00 | (HT: 0-07 – 0-08) | Venue: Cusack Park | |||
Pts: Aaron Griffin 0-7 (1tp), Mark McInerney 0-4 (1f, 1'45), Emmet McMahon 0-4 (1tp), Cillian Rouine 1-0, Dermot Coughlan 0-1, Fionn Kelleher 0-1, Alan Sweeney 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Dylan Farrell 1-7 (1tp, 1f), Oran Kenny 1-4 (1f, 1tp), Daniel Reynolds 0-2, Matthew Flynn 0-2 (tp), Paddy Moran 0-1, Aaron Farrell 0-1 |
Referee: Thomas Murphy (Galway)
|
| 23 May 2026 Round 2B | Leitrim |
0-22 (22) – (16) 1-13 | Carrick-on-Shannon | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17:30 | (HT: 0-06 – 0-09) | Venue: Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada | |||
Pts: Paul Honeyman 0-8 (3tp), Killian Gaffey 0-6 (2tpf, 2'45), Ryan O'Rourke 0-2 (1f), Conor Quinn 0-1, Oisin McLoughlin 0-1, Mark Diffley 0-1, Keith Keegan 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Ross Dunphy 0-5 (2tp), Adam McCarron 0-3 (1tpf), Padraig Bolger 0-3 (1tp), Lee Walker 1-0, Paddy McDonnell 0-2, Conor Crowley 0-1 |
Referee: Liam Devenney (Mayo)
|
| 24 May 2026 Round 2B | Waterford |
3-12 (21) – (29) 0-29 | Dungarvan | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13:00 | (HT: 0-07 – 0-19) | Venue: Fraher Field | |||
Pts: Aaron Ryan 1-2, Dermot Ryan 1-2, Liam Mulligan 1-0, Stephen Curry 0-2, Alan Dunwoody 0-2 (1f), Michael O'Brien 0-2, Caolan Mac Cathmhaoil 0-1, Adam Murray 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Lee Deignan 0-11 (3tp), Shane Deignan 0-5 (1tp), Niall Murphy 0-4 (1f), Darragh Cummins 0-2, Luke Towey 0-2, Jack Lavin 0-2, Cian Lally 0-2, Gavin Gorman 0-1 |
Referee: Brendan Griffin (Kerry)
|
Round 3
Round 2A losers played the Round 2B winners. A draw determined the home team in each fixture.[6]
| 6 June 2026 Round 3 | London |
0-16 (16) – (22) 2-16 | South Ruislip | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13:00 | (HT: 0-6 – 0-7) | Venue: McGovern Park | |||
Pts: Shay Rafter 6, Joe McGill 4 (1x2p), Ciaran Diver 2, Liam Gallagher 2, Daniel Clarke 1, Conor O’Donohue 1 |
Report | Gls: Canice Mulligan 1, Gavin Gorman 1 Pts: Lee Deignan 5 (1x2p), Niall Murphy 4 (3fs), Alan McLoughlin 3 (1x2p), Conor Walsh 1, Shane Deignan 1, Pat Spillane 1, Canice Mulligan 1 |
Referee: Séamus Mulhare (Laois)
|
| 6 June 2026 Round 3 | Leitrim |
1-12 (15) – (20) 0-20 | Carrick-on-Shannon | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:00 | (HT: 0-0 – 0-14) | Venue: Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada | |||
| Gls: Jack Kelly 1 Pts: Oisín McLoughlin 7 (3x2p, 1f), Jack Kelly 3, Ruairí O’Rourke 1, Mark Diffley 1 |
Report | Pts: Ben Brosnan 4 (2fs), Niall Hughes 3, Mark Rossiter 3 (1f), Glen Malone 2, Páiric Hughes 2, Eoghan Nolan 2 (2p), Darragh Brooks 2 (2pf), Robbie Brooks 1, Michael Kinsella 1 |
Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry)
|
| 6 June 2026 Round 3 | Wicklow |
1-17 (20) – (12) 0-12 | Aughrim | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17:00 | (HT: 1-3 – 0-7) | Venue: Echelon Park | |||
| Gls: Kevin Quinn 1 Pts: Kevin Quinn 6 (1x2p), Oisin McGraynor 3 (2fs), Liam O’Neill 3 (1x2p), Pádraig O’Toole 2, Eoin Darcy 1, Joe Prendergast 1, Mark Kenny 1 |
Report | Pts: Sean O’Connor 5 (3fs, 1x2pf), Paddy Creedon 5 (1x2p), Steven O’Brien 2 |
Referee: Kieran Eannetta (Tyrone)
|
| 6 June 2026 Round 3 | Longford |
1-15 (18) – (30) 4-18 | Longford | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18:00 | Venue: Pearse Park | ||||
Pts: Dessie Reynolds 1-2 (1tp), Oran Kenny 0-5 (1tpf), Joseph Hagan 0-3 (1tp), Peter Lynn 0-1, Matthew Flynn 0-1, Paddy Mora 0-1, Dylan Farrell 0-1 (f), Aaron Farrell 0-1 |
Report | Pts: Eamon Brown 1-2 (1f), Ruari O'Hare 1-1, Ryan McGill 1-0, Patrick Brooks 1-0, Ronan Burns 0-3 (1'45, 1tpf), Shane Annett 0-2, Odhran Murdock 0-2, Miceal Rooney 0-2, Pat Havern 0-2 (1f), Caolon Mooney 0-2, Jamie Doran 0-1, Órán Cunningham 0-1 |
Referee: Barry Tiernan (Dublin) TV: GAA+
|
Final stages
In the preliminary quarter-final, one Round 2A winner was chosen at random to play New York at home.
The quarter-finals see the Round 2A and preliminary quarter-final winners drawn against the Round 3 winners; the draw took place on 8 June 2026. Fixtures cannot be repeated, so the pairings Fermanagh–Wexford, Laois–Wicklow and Offaly–Down could not occur.[7]
| 6 June 2026 Preliminary quarter-final | Fermanagh |
3-27 (36) – (16) 1-13 | Enniskillen | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15:00 | (HT: 1-13 – 1-6) | Venue: Brewster Park | |||
| Gls: Darragh McGurn 1, Mattie McDermott 1, Aogan Kelm 1 Pts: Joe McDade 4, Darragh McGurn 3, Mattie McDermott 2 (1f), Conor Love 3, Ronan McCaffrey 3, Garvan Jones 3 (1x2pf), Sean McNally 3 (all 45's), Conor O’Hanlon 3 (1x2p), Shane McGullion 1, Conor McGee 1, Ultan Kelm 1 |
Report | Gls: Killian Butler 1 Pts: Frank O’Reilly 7 (2x2pf, 1x2p), Jack McKenna 2, Conor Keenan 1, Jimmy O’Grady 1, Tiarnan Mathers 1, Killian Butler 1 |
Referee: Sean Lonergan (Tipperary) TV: GAA+
|
| 13 June 2026 Quarter-final | Antrim |
v | Belfast | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:00 | Venue: Corrigan Park | ||||
| Referee: Thomas Murphy (Galway)
|
| 13 June 2026 Quarter-final | Laois |
v | Portlaoise | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16:00 | Venue: O'Moore Park | ||||
| Referee: Kieran Eannetta (Tyrone) TV: GAA+
|
| 13 June 2026 Quarter-final | Fermanagh |
v | Enniskillen | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17:00 | Venue: Brewster Park | ||||
| Referee: Conor Dourneen (Cavan)
|
| 20/21 June 2026 Semi-final | Quarter-final winner | v | Quarter-final winner | ||
|
|
| 20/21 June 2026 Semi-final | Quarter-final winner | v | Quarter-final winner | ||
|
|
| 11 July 2026 Final | Semi-final winner | v | Semi-final winner | Dublin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venue: Croke Park | |||||
|
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