GAA president Larry McCarthy defends regionalisation…

GAA president Larry McCarthy defends regionalisation of Tailteann Cup

The first draw for the inaugural Tailteann Cup took place on Monday morning with Ulster sides Cavan and Down being pitted against each other in the first round.

The competing teams were controversially split into northern and southern sections with New York being awarded a bye into the quarter-final.

The Breffnimen will host Down in the first round of the northern section, which is scheduled for the final weekend of May.

Antrim will be on the road after being drawn away to Leitrim with Carrick-on-Shannon set to host that fixture.

Fermanagh also missed out on a home draw and will face Division Three rivals Longford at Pearse Park.

The remaining game in the northern section sees Sligo host London at Markievicz Park.

The Tailteann Cup preliminary round games are scheduled for this weekend with Wexford taking on Offaly while Wicklow are at home to Waterford.

The winners of those preliminary round games will then meet in the first round the following weekend with the winners of Wexford and Offaly enjoying home advantage.

The other games in the southern section will see Carlow at home to Tipperary and Laois taking on Westmeath.

The three winners from the southern section join New York in the quarter-finals where they’ll join the four winners from the northern section.

The Tailteann Cup final will be played before one of the All-Ireland SFC semi-finals on Saturday, July 9 with RTÉ broadcasting both semi-finals and the final live.

Cavan, led out on to the pitch by goalkeeper Raymond Galligan for their Ulster SFC semi-final against Donegal, have been drawn at home to Down in the first round of the Tailteann Cup. (©INPHO/Ryan Byrne)

Speaking during Monday’s coverage of the Tailteann Cup draw, GAA president Larry McCarthy defended the regionalisation of the new competition, claiming the decision was made to enhance the competition, but also keeping in mind rising fuel costs for counties and spectators.

Regarding the north/south split, McCarthy commented: “It will enhance the competition with local rivalries and, with rising fuel costs, accommodate as many people as possible to attend the games.”

After the draw was concluded, he added: "I hope that it takes off like a meteorite and it's a great competition and some county grabs it and marches through the summer and has a wonderful occasion in Croke Park when we play the semi-finals and the final.

“It is the local rivalries that are going to be manifested in this, like the League, which is always considered to be a very good competition.

“The level of play will be at the same level, so it will take off, I’ve no doubt.”