Carlow trip for Tailteann Cup opener

By Shane Brophy

Tipperary’s defeat by Limerick meant the Premier County were consigned to take part in the first ever Tailteann Cup, the draw for which was made on Monday morning with David Power’s charges paired away to Carlow.

The competition is designed for the division 3 & 4 league teams that didn’t reach a provincial final, with Tipperary and Westmeath the final two teams that could have taken themselves out of the competition if they had won their provincial semi-finals at the weekend.

There was some controversy over the fact the regulations for the competition see the first three rounds played on a regional basis with eight teams in the North section and nine in the South, including New York, who have a bye until the quarter final round.

It meant a preliminary round which Tipperary avoided by virtue of reaching a Munster semi-final, and were paired away to Carlow, who they defeated in the league.

For all the negative talk around the competition, David Power and Tipperary will be going full-blooded for the competition.

“We’ll be back training next Wednesday night and get ready for the Tailteann Cup,” he said.

“Hopefully we will start with a win and have two weeks to get ready for, and it is great to have something to look forward to.”

Tailteann Cup draw

Preliminary Round – 21/22 May: Wexford v Offaly; Wicklow v Waterford

Round 1 – 28-29 May:

North – Longford v Fermanagh; Leitrim v Antrim; Sligo v London, Cavan v Down

South - Wexford or Offaly v Wicklow or Waterford; Carlow v Tipperary; Laois v Westmeath

Quarter Finals – 4/5 June

Semi-Finals – Saturday 19th June at Croke Park

Final – Saturday 9th July at Croke Park, with an All-Ireland Semi-Final