Wexford Senior footballers to learn Tailteann Cup fate in Wednesday's draw
The only thing that can be said with any degree of certainty in advance is that they will not be playing Laois, Limerick or Sligo – their fellow second seeds.
Four groups of four will be selected, with the draw to be conducted by Brian Carroll from Roscommon, Chairperson of the Central Competitions Control Committee, and Leitrim native Feargal McGill, GAA Director of Player, Club and Games Administraton.
The confirmed seedings for the Tailteann Cup, after Louth secured the last remaining spot in the Sam Maguire Cup in Tullamore on Sunday, are –
First seeds: Fermanagh, Kildare, Offaly, Westmeath.
Second seeds: Laois, Limerick, Sligo, Wexford.
Third seeds: Antrim, Carlow, Leitrim, Wicklow.
Fourth seeds: Longford, London, Tipperary, Waterford.
Wexford's first involvement in the Tailteann Cup was in 2022, its inaugural year, when they lost the preliminary round to Offaly by one point in Bellefield in a straight knockout format.
The group structure was introduced in 2023, when a draw with Fermanagh, loss to Antrim, and win against Leitrim, led to a preliminary quarter-final against Offaly.
Revenge for the previous year was secured with a five-point success in Tullamore (1-22 to 2-14), only for eventual champions Meath to burst the bubble with a commanding 2-23 to 0-12 victory in the last-eight tie in Navan.
Wexford will be motivated by a strong desire to atone for last year, when they made a tame exit with three straight group losses to Sligo, Antrim and Tipperary respectively.
The format is similar to 2024, with each team playing one group game at home and one away, before the third round ties are staged at neutral venues.
The four group winners will advance direct to the quarter-finals, while the preliminary quarter-finals will feature the second-placed teams (with home advantage) against either New York or one of the three third-placed sides with the best record.
The action will begin on the weekend of May 10-11, with round two a week later and the groups set to conclude on May 31-June 1. The preliminary quarter-finals are on June 7-8, with the last-eight ties on the 14th and 15th.
Croke Park will host the semi-finals on June 21-22, which is also All-Ireland Senior hurling quarter-final weekend like last year. Headquarters will also stage the final on Saturday, July 12 prior to an All-Ireland Senior football quarter-final.
Westmeath defeated Cavan in the inaugural Tailteann Cup final in 2022, with Meath overcoming Down in 2023 before the Mourne County went one better against Laois in 2024.
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