ANTRIM chairman Ciaran McCavana believes the GAA “are up against it” in trying to make the inaugural 2022 Tailteann Cup a success – and fears it will suffer poor promotion similar to the Joe McDonagh Cup, its hurling equivalent.
The Tailteann Cup – which is effectively an All-Ireland ‘B’ Championship and replaces the 20-year-old All-Ireland Qualifier system – will be played for the first time next year and will include Division Three and Division Four teams, unless one of those counties reaches a provincial final and therefore would remain in the Sam Maguire series.
While All-Ireland tiers in hurling have been generally welcomed by the participants, the lower echelons of the small-ball game have traditionally received scant promotion and TV coverage.
With McCavana hoping his native Antrim can earn promotion into Division Two next season and stay in the ‘A’ side of the All-Ireland Championship, he believes the GAA will have to “throw everything” at the Tailteann Cup to give it wings in its first season.
Earlier this week, the GAA confirmed the Tailteann final would be played ahead of an All-Ireland semi-final and not on All-Ireland final day, as was previously mooted, because it would potentially suffer in promotion terms, the Association said, ahead of the senior decider and players would also be delayed in returning to their clubs for the split season.
“We’d be sceptical of it especially when you look at the coverage the Joe McDonagh,” said McCavana.
“Will there be more TV coverage of it? We’ll wait and see. Will some Allstars come from Tailteann Cup teams? Will there be team holidays for the Tailteann Cup winners? And why can’t it be played as a double header with the All-Ireland final?
“It’s about coverage; it’ll be interesting to see how it’s rolled out. From day one, the GAA is up against it, it has to throw everything at this. The All-Ireland promotes itself so this is the competition that needs PR, it needs equality with the current Allstars and it needs funding.
“One of the pluses of the Tailteann Cup is the winners go into the All-Ireland the following year - but why can’t it be both finalists going in? That would be an added incentive to reach the final.”
The Naomh Éanna clubman added: “The Joe McDonagh Cup is very competitive and doesn't extend your season - but the promotion and support it receives is disgraceful...
“If you win it, you get into the All-Ireland series that same season. That might be a more sensible approach - allowing the winners to re-join the All-Ireland series as a wild card entry in the same season.”
The GAA’s last All-Ireland ‘B’ Championship venture – the Tommy Murphy Cup – was disbanded in 2008 after five underwhelming seasons, with Jody Gormley’s Antrim the last winners of the much-maligned competition.
“You just go back and talk to managers of the Tommy Murphy Cup and they trained one night a week for it, and let’s be honest, other teams pulled out of it,” McCavana said.
“It’s also a big cost to run county teams for longer periods, and there is also talk of some of the big hitters dropping down to compete in the Tailteann Cup which limits your chances of winning it.
“I think some players will buy into it and some players won’t. All the players embrace the Sam Maguire but players can find other commitments if they’re not in that competition, and that can very quickly hurt a squad and a competition.
“Players might decide to concentrate on rehab or rest and get ready for the club season. You just don’t know how each individual will think about the Tailteann Cup.”
The GAA’s TV rights are up for grabs again in 2022 and it will be interesting to note what coverage can be secured for the Tailteann Cup in negotiations with the bidding media companies.
