Bill Hill Wicklow

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Wicklow – 2026 Tailteann Cup Final Facts:

• 🔵🟡 Wicklow reached their first-ever Tailteann Cup Final after defeating Offaly 2-26 to 4-15 in a dramatic semi-final at Croke Park.  
• 🔥 Oisín McConville’s side produced one of the comebacks of the championship, overturning an eight-point half-time deficit against Offaly.  
• 💪 Wicklow also came from nine points behind to defeat Antrim 2-19 to 3-15 in the quarter-final, showing remarkable resilience in consecutive knockout games.  
• 🎯 Goalkeeper Mark Jackson has been one of the championship’s leading scorers thanks to his accuracy from frees and two-point frees, while Oisín McGraynor and Eoin Darcy have supplied crucial goals.  
• 📈 Wicklow have won back-to-back knockout matches after trailing heavily, highlighting their ability to finish games strongly.  

Down – 2026 Tailteann Cup Facts

• 🔴⚫ Down are appearing in their third Tailteann Cup Final in four seasons, having won the competition in 2024.  
• 🏆 Victory would give Down a second Tailteann Cup title, the most by any county since the competition began.  
• ⚡ Down edged Fermanagh 2-19 to 1-21 in a thrilling semi-final, with Ryan McEvoy kicking the decisive late point.  
• 💥 Down were impressive in the quarter-finals, defeating Laois 2-23 to 0-16 to book their place in the last four.  
• 🎯 Eamon Brown, Pat Havern and Odhrán Murdock have all featured among Down’s leading scorers during the campaign.  

Tailteann Cup Final Facts

• 🏆 The winners qualify automatically for the 2027 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Round of 16 (Sam Maguire).  
• 🏟️ The final will be played in Croke Park on Saturday, 11 July, with throw-in at 3:30pm.
• ⚔️ Both finalists have reached the decider after producing dramatic comeback victories in the knockout stages. Wicklow recovered from deficits against Antrim and Offaly, while Down held off a strong Fermanagh fightback in the semi-final.
• Top Scorers Table: https://billhillwicklow.com/list/tailteann-cup-top-scorers-table-2026/
• Wicklow Statistics & Facts
  • 🔵 Wicklow became the first team in the 2026 Tailteann Cup to overturn deficits of eight or more points in consecutive knockout matches. They came from nine down against Antrim before recovering from an eight-point half-time deficit against Offaly.  
  • ⚡ Wicklow outscored Offaly by 1-17 to 1-4 in the second half of the semi-final after trailing 3-11 to 1-9 at half-time.  
  • 🎯 Goalkeeper Mark Jackson scored 0-6 in the semi-final, while Chris O’Brien also hit 0-6, making them joint top scorers in Wicklow’s victory over Offaly.  
  • 💥 Wicklow scored two goals in each of their knockout victories over Antrim and Offaly.  
  • 🔥 Oisín McConville described the second-half display against Offaly as “the best 35 minutes we’ve played” since taking charge of Wicklow.  
  • 🏆 Victory would secure Wicklow’s first Tailteann Cup title and a place in the 2027 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Round of 16 (Sam Maguire).  

  Down Statistics & Facts

  • 🔴 Down won the 2026 Allianz National Football League Division 3 before embarking on another impressive Tailteann Cup run.  
  • 🏆 Down are attempting to become the first county to win two Tailteann Cup titles, having lifted the trophy in 2024.  
  • 💪 Down defeated 2024 finalists Laois by 2-23 to 0-15 in the quarter-final before edging Fermanagh by a single point in the semi-final.  
  • ⚽ In the semi-final, Eamon Brown and Pat Havern both found the net as Down built a ten-point lead before surviving a Fermanagh comeback.  
  • 🎯 Ryan McEvoy kicked the winning point with just three minutes remaining against Fermanagh to send Down into the final.  
  • 🔥 Substitute Caolán Mooney made a huge impact by scoring 0-2 during the closing stages of the semi-final.  

  Head-to-Head & Final Facts

  • 🏟️ Both counties arrive at Croke Park having won thrilling semi-finals by contrasting styles—Wicklow with a remarkable comeback and Down by holding off a dramatic comeback.  
  • 📈 Between them, the finalists scored 8 goals across their quarter-finals and semi-finals.
  • ⚔️ Wicklow have scored four goals in their last two matches, while Down have also scored four goals in their last two matches.  
  • 💥 Both finalists have shown tremendous character under pressure—Wicklow recovered from huge deficits in successive matches, while Down withstood a ten-point comeback from Fermanagh to book their place in the decider.  
  • 🏆 The winners will not only lift the Tailteann Cup but will also earn an automatic place in the 2027 Sam Maguire Championship Round of 16, making this one of the biggest games in either county’s recent history.