National Forum

Tailteann Cup 2026

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Replying To CeachtPeile:  "And yet there would be no issue if a Munster or Leinster hurling team lost three matches and qualified. It's bound to happen eventually in one of the groups.
In fact, a Leinster team could lose four matches (three group games and the Leinster final) and continue. Why the double standards?"
Why the "double standard"? Because one is run on a group basis, while the other is run on a "knockout with a back door" basis. Both formats as agreed at Congress, where all counties have a vote on it. It's really quite simple.

Anyway, as recently as last year, the same could have happened in football - a county could lose a provincial match, lose two more in the group stage of the Sam Maguire but go through in third place, and still go on to win the Sam Maguire despite having lost three times.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3592 - 10/05/2026 18:11:25    2672048

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "Why the "double standard"? Because one is run on a group basis, while the other is run on a "knockout with a back door" basis. Both formats as agreed at Congress, where all counties have a vote on it. It's really quite simple.

Anyway, as recently as last year, the same could have happened in football - a county could lose a provincial match, lose two more in the group stage of the Sam Maguire but go through in third place, and still go on to win the Sam Maguire despite having lost three times."
As you say, groups were used for the last three years in football and the system was abandoned this year largely because of the incessant whinging about teams being able to lose three times. No such objection exists in the case of hurling even though Leinster teams can lose four matches. So definite double standards considering the same body deals with both structures.

CeachtPeile (Cavan) - Posts: 176 - 10/05/2026 22:25:06    2672168

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Down and Ofally will be a good game.

hlynch12 (Limerick) - Posts: 18 - 11/05/2026 14:32:42    2672353

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Replying To hlynch12:  "Down and Ofally will be a good game."
Yep, all time attendance champs that pairing.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4711 - 11/05/2026 15:26:34    2672371

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Replying To hlynch12:  "Down and Ofally will be a good game."
Cough! Cough! ( Not so fast......... never know)

Solo_Run (Leitrim) - Posts: 220 - 11/05/2026 15:46:02    2672379

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Replying To hlynch12:  "Down and Ofally will be a good game."
What about leitrim

mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1981 - 11/05/2026 16:14:40    2672393

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Replying To CeachtPeile:  "As you say, groups were used for the last three years in football and the system was abandoned this year largely because of the incessant whinging about teams being able to lose three times. No such objection exists in the case of hurling even though Leinster teams can lose four matches. So definite double standards considering the same body deals with both structures."
There are 6 teams in Leinster, not a group of 4.
Besides which noone has ever won Leinster after losing more than twice. Im not even sure its mathematically possible, although if all 6 teams were exactly evenly matched then maybe it would be. But they arent.
Just for your records-
2018 winners Galway lost no games
2019 winners Wexford lost no games
2022 winners Kilkenny lost 2 games. Galway were undefeated in the group stage.
2023 winners Kilkenny lost 1 game. Galway again undefeated in the group stage.
2024 winners Kilkenny lost no games
2025 winners Kilkenny lost 1 game.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19533 - 11/05/2026 16:19:58    2672399

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Replying To CeachtPeile:  "As you say, groups were used for the last three years in football and the system was abandoned this year largely because of the incessant whinging about teams being able to lose three times. No such objection exists in the case of hurling even though Leinster teams can lose four matches. So definite double standards considering the same body deals with both structures."
Absolutely on the contrary, and again, considering the same body deals with both structures.

It's not "double standards". It's having the wisdom to make two different decisions in two different sets of circumstances.

Anyway, while it's mathematically possible to finish third in Leinster hurling after three losses, it's highly unlikely. Hasn't happened yet, and won't happen this year either.

On the other hand, with the football group stages, it was a regular occurrence that counties would reach the "real" knockout stages, and therefore theoretically could go on to win the Sam Maguire, after losing three matches. Happened with two counties last year. Also two the year before.

Different circumstances. Different decisions. And if you want to talk about "double standards", well, they were actually weighted in favour of the football championship if you look at it that way.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3592 - 11/05/2026 16:29:00    2672402

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The optics looked bad to lose 2 group games after provincial knockout and to be still in the championship because of 3 from 4 getting out of the groups. A third strike for Clare and Limerick and they will be out.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9726 - 11/05/2026 16:49:43    2672413

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Replying To CeachtPeile:  "As you say, groups were used for the last three years in football and the system was abandoned this year largely because of the incessant whinging about teams being able to lose three times. No such objection exists in the case of hurling even though Leinster teams can lose four matches. So definite double standards considering the same body deals with both structures."
You're right, it's a big double standard in favour of football.

It's impossible to get knocked out of the football Championship without losing at least 3 games, whereas it's theoretically possible to get knocked out of the hurling Championship without losing a single game.

Very unfair on hurling.

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1729 - 11/05/2026 18:33:41    2672441

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Replying To legendzxix:  "The optics looked bad to lose 2 group games after provincial knockout and to be still in the championship because of 3 from 4 getting out of the groups. A third strike for Clare and Limerick and they will be out."
4 teams will have their seasons over by 24th May.
Can you improve a team with a 4 month playing season?

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 551 - 11/05/2026 18:51:41    2672446

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Replying To Seanfan:  "4 teams will have their seasons over by 24th May.
Can you improve a team with a 4 month playing season?"
The same way you improve a club team in a 4 month playing window.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19533 - 11/05/2026 23:06:10    2672472

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Replying To Viking66:  "The same way you improve a club team in a 4 month playing window."
Club lads (excl County )will have been playing all year together and since they were 9 or 10.

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 551 - 12/05/2026 11:27:13    2672549

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Replying To CastleBravo:  "You're right, it's a big double standard in favour of football.

It's impossible to get knocked out of the football Championship without losing at least 3 games, whereas it's theoretically possible to get knocked out of the hurling Championship without losing a single game.

Very unfair on hurling."
Now we're at it :)

But first, just to point out that it's possible to go out of the football after losing just once - if you win your provincial title, and win all the way through the Sam Maguire knockout stages, before being beaten in the All-Ireland Final. No second chance then.

However, provincial champions can lose twice before exiting the championship, and everybody else knocked out along the way will have lost three times before going out.

While on the other hand...yes, it's possible to go out of the hurling championship without losing even once. A Leinster championship team, for instance, could draw all five games and thus finish on five points. Just once in the four years that it's operated with six teams in the group has five points been good enough to go through. And even in that year, another team on five points went out.

Indeed, in two of the four years, a team went out in fourth place despite having six points. So even one win and four draws (and crucially - no defeats!) wouldn't guarantee you going through.

Definitely a BIG double standard in favour of football when you look at it that way :)

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3592 - 12/05/2026 11:32:36    2672550

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Replying To Seanfan:  "Club lads (excl County )will have been playing all year together and since they were 9 or 10."
The club window, when the clubs have all their players, is still only around 4 months a year.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 19533 - 12/05/2026 11:39:33    2672553

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Replying To Seanfan:  "4 teams will have their seasons over by 24th May.
Can you improve a team with a 4 month playing season?"
People are entitled to an opinion that the inter-county window isn't long enough, but it would be nice if they'd stick to facts while expressing that opinion. And the facts are:

- All those teams (Munster & Leinster) returned to training in late November.
- No doubt played a couple of practice matches during December. I know Wexford did anyway, and we didn't play against ourselves, so other counties were definitely doing the same!
- Played Munster Hurling League & Walsh Cup/Shield during early January.
- Began the National Hurling League later in January, and played through to end of March, or early April if they made the final. Six or seven matches each.
- Played four Munster or five Leinster championship matches between mid-April and towards end of May.

Even if you go out of your championship at the end of the group stage, that's still six months you've had to improve your team (late November to late May). Not four.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3592 - 12/05/2026 11:44:45    2672558

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Replying To Pikeman96:  "People are entitled to an opinion that the inter-county window isn't long enough, but it would be nice if they'd stick to facts while expressing that opinion. And the facts are:

- All those teams (Munster & Leinster) returned to training in late November.
- No doubt played a couple of practice matches during December. I know Wexford did anyway, and we didn't play against ourselves, so other counties were definitely doing the same!
- Played Munster Hurling League & Walsh Cup/Shield during early January.
- Began the National Hurling League later in January, and played through to end of March, or early April if they made the final. Six or seven matches each.
- Played four Munster or five Leinster championship matches between mid-April and towards end of May.

Even if you go out of your championship at the end of the group stage, that's still six months you've had to improve your team (late November to late May). Not four."
I'm talking football in a Tailteann Cup thread.
Just posed a question (on football in a .. .).

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 551 - 12/05/2026 12:49:15    2672572

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Replying To Seanfan:  "4 teams will have their seasons over by 24th May.
Can you improve a team with a 4 month playing season?"
The majority of Tailteann counties exited their provincial championship by weekend 3 of 6. Teams will start exiting the All Ireland championship on June 13th/14th, 3 weeks after counties start being knocked out of the Tailteann. GPA wanted a 30 week intercounty playing season. It runs from the start of January to the end of July. Will anyone think of the clubs...

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9726 - 12/05/2026 13:18:39    2672584

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@Seanfan - sorry. I conflated the two ongoing discussions.

But same point applies that all those football squads will have been together since last November too. And that's also six months to try improve all those teams before they make their championship exit. Not four.

Pikeman96 (Wexford) - Posts: 3592 - 12/05/2026 13:24:29    2672587

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