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Carlow GAA thread

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I'm old school & I would Iove if we had beaten Wicklow in the Leinster Championship yesterday. The prize was the Dubs coming to town for another big game. Yes that would have been the end of the road ( however we beat Kildare in 2018 when they were coming down from div 1 so shocks can happen, thats our last Leinster win by the way)
The Tailteann Cup will look after itself but getting a win in Leinster Championship beats the Tailteann. You won't get the same crowd there for Tailteann & it just doesn't feel like Championship.
On the crowd we will lose supporters for the coming games. I met a few fellas afterwards who said never again. There point was that they were starting to believe again but then we take a hiding to a team who will be operating in Div 4 next year. Fair weather supporters but our inconsistency is a killer & days like yesterday gives the doubters plenty of ammunition

carlo (Carlow) - Posts: 329 - 13/04/2026 17:51:58    2666232

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Replying To Carlowrising:  "I'm not knocking any of our wins in the Tailteann Cup however let's not be deluded, the Tailteann Cup is a second tier competition and certainly not Championship (The highest standard of competition in Gaa).

The Tailteann is on a par with the Joe Mac in Hurling except the Joe Mac is a more difficult tournament to get wins in because there are 2 tiers below to filter out sides of lesser ability. The Tailteann Cup is the All Ireland B or Tommy Murphy Cup rehashed therefore winning TC games do not equate to a Championship win. This is especially true for the TC group games which never had a Championship feel."
If the Tailteann Cup isn't championship, then the Sam Maguire also isn't championship.

When you're in hole, stop digging.

CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 1088 - 13/04/2026 19:48:26    2666250

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Replying To CARPS:  "If the Tailteann Cup isn't championship, then the Sam Maguire also isn't championship.

When you're in hole, stop digging."
Its not a matter of opinion it's factual, the Sam Maguire is the official Championship, the Tailteann Cup is a seperate competition for sides who do not qualify. If you want to codd yourself and let on that winning a Tailteann cup equates to a championship win that's up to you.

Carlowrising (Carlow) - Posts: 217 - 13/04/2026 22:18:02    2666266

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Replying To Onion Breath:  "Completely disagree. TC is championship. It's not the no. 1 championship but it's still a championship and it's worth winning.

By your logic a club who wins an intermediate championship in a county haven't won a championship !!"
Of course the Tailteann cup is worth winning but that doesn't make it championship.

Not sure how you have landed with that logic, if a team wins an intermediate championship then they have won an Intermediate Championship. When a team wins a Tailteann Cup game they have then won a tier 2 competition game.

The confusion begins when a championship win (Premier competition) is equated with a TC win (Tier 2 competition) by referring to the TC as championship. Did you also refer to the Tommy Murphy Cup as Championship?

Carlowrising (Carlow) - Posts: 217 - 13/04/2026 22:35:29    2666272

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Replying To Carlowrising:  "We havent won a championship match since the famous win over Kildare in 2018.

This was a great oppertunity to break that stat as it was our first champuonship outing at home since Tyrone in the same year.

That said, id rather have Carlow compete in top level rather than playing in a 2nd/3rd tier mock up instead, thats what the Tailteann Cup is for."
Grand, send an email to Grange and the Cocks to tell them they only won 2nd/3rd tier mock ups and because they didn't beat Old Leighlin they achieved nothing.

SofaSupporter (Carlow) - Posts: 18 - 13/04/2026 23:09:02    2666276

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Replying To carlo:  "I'm old school & I would Iove if we had beaten Wicklow in the Leinster Championship yesterday. The prize was the Dubs coming to town for another big game. Yes that would have been the end of the road ( however we beat Kildare in 2018 when they were coming down from div 1 so shocks can happen, thats our last Leinster win by the way)
The Tailteann Cup will look after itself but getting a win in Leinster Championship beats the Tailteann. You won't get the same crowd there for Tailteann & it just doesn't feel like Championship.
On the crowd we will lose supporters for the coming games. I met a few fellas afterwards who said never again. There point was that they were starting to believe again but then we take a hiding to a team who will be operating in Div 4 next year. Fair weather supporters but our inconsistency is a killer & days like yesterday gives the doubters plenty of ammunition"
What was the gap between the league final and the first round in 2018?

The whole paradigm has changed. It's a different school now.

CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 1088 - 14/04/2026 00:14:22    2666291

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Replying To CARPS:  "If the Tailteann Cup isn't championship, then the Sam Maguire also isn't championship.

When you're in hole, stop digging."
Sorry for the intrusion Carps, the TC is an alternative competition to facilitate the so called weaker counties that are out of the running for success in the provensial championships and everything else, akin to the Tommy Murphy cup.

supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 3392 - 14/04/2026 09:23:02    2666306

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Replying To Carlowrising:  "Of course the Tailteann cup is worth winning but that doesn't make it championship.

Not sure how you have landed with that logic, if a team wins an intermediate championship then they have won an Intermediate Championship. When a team wins a Tailteann Cup game they have then won a tier 2 competition game.

The confusion begins when a championship win (Premier competition) is equated with a TC win (Tier 2 competition) by referring to the TC as championship. Did you also refer to the Tommy Murphy Cup as Championship?"
The GAA say the TC is CHAMPIONSHIP.

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 474 - 14/04/2026 10:27:10    2666311

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Replying To SofaSupporter:  "Grand, send an email to Grange and the Cocks to tell them they only won 2nd/3rd tier mock ups and because they didn't beat Old Leighlin they achieved nothing."
Why would you say they achieved nothing? Grange and The Cocks are fully aware what they won last season and there is plenty of merit winning an Intermediate, Junior A, B or C title.

Why be so adament to pretend the TC is Championship and not accept it for what it is?

Carlowrising (Carlow) - Posts: 217 - 14/04/2026 10:59:26    2666318

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Replying To Seanfan:  "The GAA say the TC is CHAMPIONSHIP."
The All Ireland Football Championship has been running for 139 years since 1887. It remains the most sought-after prize in the sport and is widely recognised as the premier tournament. A game in the Championship is a great occasion for any county's GAA community.

Unfortunately, the gap in standards between counties has widened significantly in recent years, creating a divide that stretches from the very top teams to those at the lower end. For a number of counties, the reality is that competing for the Sam Maguire has become increasingly out of reach, making meaningful progress in the competition an unrealistic ambition rather than a genuine goal.

This is precisely why the Tailteann Cup was introduced, not as an extension of the All-Ireland Championship, but as a separate, second-tier competition designed to provide realistic opportunities for success. It offers counties a chance to compete against teams of a similar level, to build momentum, and to experience the rewards of silverware and competitive progression. That distinction is important and should not be blurred.

Attempting to portray the Tailteann Cup as part of the All-Ireland Championship does a disservice to both competitions. The integrity of the Championship lies in its status as the elite contest for the top teams, while the Tailteann Cup has its own value and purpose. Recognising each for what it is ensures fairness, clarity, and respect for all counties involved.

I still think all counties should compete in the All Ireland Championship every year in a tiered draw but hammerings will happen, thats sport. The League and Tailteann are there to develop and try climb the ladder.

Ultimatley all roads lead to Championship!

Carlowrising (Carlow) - Posts: 217 - 14/04/2026 11:16:55    2666324

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Replying To CARPS:  "If the Tailteann Cup isn't championship, then the Sam Maguire also isn't championship.

When you're in hole, stop digging."
The Tailteann is more on a par with the Christy ring.
Liam McCarthy involves top 11 counties, McD those ranked 12-17. Top 16 plus last years winners are ruled out of Tailteann, so those ranked 17 onwards included.
McD is clearly the hurlers championship.
You should only be allowed compete in one championship, so which is it for the footballers this year?? If it's the Tailteann as suggested in previous posts and Leinster isn't our main focus why on earth are we in that comp, completely disrespecting it.

Carlowtothecore1 (Carlow) - Posts: 126 - 14/04/2026 11:41:29    2666329

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Replying To Carlowrising:  "Why would you say they achieved nothing? Grange and The Cocks are fully aware what they won last season and there is plenty of merit winning an Intermediate, Junior A, B or C title.

Why be so adament to pretend the TC is Championship and not accept it for what it is?"
This is all getting a bit tedious and I'm inclined to say no more on it but I can't let this go without pointing out that you've been very deliberate in your terminology above.

You used the word "title" when I think 99 times out of 100 people would say "championship" instead.

Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1819 - 14/04/2026 12:22:47    2666344

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Replying To supersub15:  "Sorry for the intrusion Carps, the TC is an alternative competition to facilitate the so called weaker counties that are out of the running for success in the provensial championships and everything else, akin to the Tommy Murphy cup."
That's not true. Because the Tommy Murphy wasn't linked to the Sam Maguire.

CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 1088 - 14/04/2026 14:17:56    2666375

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Replying To Carlowrising:  "The All Ireland Football Championship has been running for 139 years since 1887. It remains the most sought-after prize in the sport and is widely recognised as the premier tournament. A game in the Championship is a great occasion for any county's GAA community.

Unfortunately, the gap in standards between counties has widened significantly in recent years, creating a divide that stretches from the very top teams to those at the lower end. For a number of counties, the reality is that competing for the Sam Maguire has become increasingly out of reach, making meaningful progress in the competition an unrealistic ambition rather than a genuine goal.

This is precisely why the Tailteann Cup was introduced, not as an extension of the All-Ireland Championship, but as a separate, second-tier competition designed to provide realistic opportunities for success. It offers counties a chance to compete against teams of a similar level, to build momentum, and to experience the rewards of silverware and competitive progression. That distinction is important and should not be blurred.

Attempting to portray the Tailteann Cup as part of the All-Ireland Championship does a disservice to both competitions. The integrity of the Championship lies in its status as the elite contest for the top teams, while the Tailteann Cup has its own value and purpose. Recognising each for what it is ensures fairness, clarity, and respect for all counties involved.

I still think all counties should compete in the All Ireland Championship every year in a tiered draw but hammerings will happen, thats sport. The League and Tailteann are there to develop and try climb the ladder.

Ultimatley all roads lead to Championship!"
That's written by AI!

Hilarious.

CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 1088 - 14/04/2026 14:20:23    2666377

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Replying To Carlowtothecore1:  "The Tailteann is more on a par with the Christy ring.
Liam McCarthy involves top 11 counties, McD those ranked 12-17. Top 16 plus last years winners are ruled out of Tailteann, so those ranked 17 onwards included.
McD is clearly the hurlers championship.
You should only be allowed compete in one championship, so which is it for the footballers this year?? If it's the Tailteann as suggested in previous posts and Leinster isn't our main focus why on earth are we in that comp, completely disrespecting it."
And this isn't written by AI. Because it's unreadable.

CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 1088 - 14/04/2026 14:21:03    2666378

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Replying To CARPS:  "And this isn't written by AI. Because it's unreadable."
Especially for you Carps..

Hurling..
Liam McCarthy: 11 teams:
McDonagh: 6 teams:
Ring / Rackard / Meagher: remaining teams
So Liam McCarthy / McD includes top 17 teams:

Football..
Sam MaGuire group stages
4 groups of 4 teams, these 16 teams are excluded from Tailteann.
Plus Kildare as 2025 winners if they do not reach Leinster final. Which would result in 17 exclusions.
Remaining teams enter Tailteann cup, which are teams ranked outside top 17, similar to hurling Ring / Rickard / Meagher teams.
Comprendre??

Carlowtothecore1 (Carlow) - Posts: 126 - 14/04/2026 15:28:54    2666405

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Replying To Onion Breath:  "This is all getting a bit tedious and I'm inclined to say no more on it but I can't let this go without pointing out that you've been very deliberate in your terminology above.

You used the word "title" when I think 99 times out of 100 people would say "championship" instead."
Its only tedious if you are deluded or in denial, otherwise its very simple; Championship is the tournement we have been getting hammered in consistently for the past 9 years. The Tailteann Cup is a 2nd tier competition that the 17 lowest ranked sides compete in. For an ego boost you might tell yourself that we have won Championship matches against New York etc over the last few years in the TC but it wouldnt really be true.

Again Im not knocking tier 2 competions, the county got a great lift when winning the All-Ireland B back in the day, however those games and that tournement wouldnt be classed as Championship.

Carlowrising (Carlow) - Posts: 217 - 14/04/2026 15:59:30    2666409

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Replying To CARPS:  "That's written by AI!

Hilarious."
Whats hilarious about it?

Carlowrising (Carlow) - Posts: 217 - 14/04/2026 16:01:24    2666410

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Replying To CARPS:  "That's not true. Because the Tommy Murphy wasn't linked to the Sam Maguire."
It is true and thats a weak arguement. The Tailteann cup is linked to the following years Sam Maguire.

Carlowrising (Carlow) - Posts: 217 - 14/04/2026 16:06:22    2666411

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For clarity, visit the Tailteann Cup Wikipedia page and read the opening description;

The Tailteann Cup is a Gaelic football competition held annually since 2022 and organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). It is contested by those county teams, which, in the given year, have not otherwise qualified for the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, and the winner is awarded the Tailteann Cup.

Carlowrising (Carlow) - Posts: 217 - 14/04/2026 16:09:03    2666412

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