Laois v Wicklow: Tailteann Cup Round 1 Preview   

Laois v Wicklow: Tailteann Cup Round 1 Preview

New Tailteann Cup format explained:

Round 1

16 teams play eachother.

Winners go to Round 2A.

Losers are not eliminated: they go to Round 2B instead.

Round 2A

The 8 Round 1 winners play each other.

The 4 winners here are in a very strong position:

Three go directly to quarter-finals.

One is drawn to face New York in a preliminary quarter-final.

Round 2B

The 8 Round 1 losers play each other.

Lose here and you’re out.

The 4 winners stay alive.

Round 3

The 4 losers from Round 2A play the 4 winners from Round 2B.

Winners advance to the quarter-finals.

Quarter-finals onward

Quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final are straight knockout.

The final is played in Croke Park.

Laois are at home tomorrow Sunday May 10th in Laois Hire O’Moore Park at 2pm to face Wicklow in Round 1 of the Tailteann Cup.

Ticket Information: Buy Your Match Tickets

Photo credits: Oonagh Maher

Follow live match updates and scores on the official CLG Laois X account: @CLGLaois. Plus on our official Facebook page.

Laois team named to face Wicklow:

Latest Key Laois Stats (Courtesy of Eoin Culliton @LeixGaelicStats on Twitter)

From the Leinster Senior Football Championship Quarter Final v Kildare

Evan O’Carroll’s 120th overall appearance was made for Laois senior footballers.

It was also Kevin Swayne’s 25th SFC game.

Ciaran Burke made his 20th L&C match app.

Paul Kingston scored his 9th SFC goal.

He’s now level with John McDarby, Tom Prendergast and his brother, Donie.

11 Bill Delaney & Willie Brennan

10 Chris Delaney & Noel Delaney

Laois v Wicklow in the Tailteann Cup

Previous Meeting Results

2025:

Wicklow: 0.21

Laois: 0.16

2024

Wicklow 0.11

Laois: 0.11

Standout Laois Players v Wicklow last time out:

Goalkeeper Killian Roche done very well in difficult conditions. He scored a brilliant two-point free from long range.

He made an excellent save from Wicklow’s Eoin Darcy’s great effort on goal.

Paddy O’Sullivan was reliable in defence andcleared a certain Wicklow goal off the line in the first half. Paddy known for his bursting runs up the pitch to aid in attack after winning back possession in the back line, Paddy got a point from play for himself as well as a result of his great pace going forward.

Ronan Coffey worked hard throughout and finished with 0-3, and was excellent on frees in particular.

Defensively, Trevor Collins stood out with two superb tackles and two key interceptions on Kevin Quinn, who was Wicklow’s danger man that day and Collins turned over possession, launching Laois attacks. He also made a 3rd vital last-ditch tackle to deny Wicklow a certain goal. Before he made his 4th in total of the day another crucial defensive intervention to stop another probable Wicklow goal chance. Worked extremely hard all game and never let up his defensive pressure intensity levels. The most impressive for Laois that day overall.

Wicklow’s story in 2026 so far:

Wicklow competed in Division 4 of the NFL and will compete again in Division 4 in 2027. However the came really close to promotion, falling just short finishing in 3rd place.

Wicklow pushed Dublin all the way in Aughrim in the Leinster senior football championship quarter final and we’re defeated by Dublin by only 2 points in the end after putting in a strong performance.

Laois and Wicklow in the Tailteann Cup: Wicklow have the upper hand on Laois in the Tailteann Cup these past 2 years. Wicklow have 1 draw and 1 win over Laois in the Tailteann Cup in 2024 and 2025 and when Laois and Wicklow meet, particularly in the Tailteann Cup it’s also a closely contested game.

Wicklow’s Standout Players:

Mark Jackson

Scored 0-31 across the campaign

Eoin Darcy

Scored 1-08 by mid-season

Up Next:

The Tailteann Cup Round 2A (Winners round) and Round 2B (Losers round) will be an open draw, like the Round 1 draw. First home drawn out gets home advantage. Fixtures after draw results tbc during the week.