We have Tailteann Cup odds for you as gaelic football's secondary competition has reached the final stage in the second year of its existence.
Fermanagh won the division with 12 points from their seven matches, Cavan came second with 10-points and a points difference of +36 Down came third with 10-points and a points difference of +15 after winning five and losing two matches.
Down had the second-best attack in the division with 129 points which is an average of 18.4 points per match only one less than Cavan with 130. However, defensively they were open at the back with their 114 points conceded (an average of 16.28 per match) the fifth worst in the division.
Unfortunately from a Down perspective they would go on to lose in the Ulster semi-final to Armagh in a 1-14 to 0-12 points scoreline. That result along with their status as a Division 3 side meant they would play in the Tailteann Cup this year.
Tailteann Cup Group Stage
They might have been eliminated in Round 1 of this competition last year but their solid league form and shock win over Donegal in the Ulster Championship gave them high hopes heading into this year's competition.
The Mournemen were drawn in Group 2 with Meath, Tipperary and Waterford. In the end, Down finished 2nd in the group thanks to two opening round wins, a 2-14 to 1-06 victory over Waterford and a 2-18 to 0-06 win over Tipperary.
Down had a chance at top spot in the group too but were unable to get the better of Meath in the final round where they lost by two points.
Preliminary Quarter-Final
Their 2nd place group finish saw them advance to the preliminary quarter-final against Longford who they beat comfortably by 8 points.
Quarter-Final
That victory over Longford set up a date with early Tailteann Cup favourites Cavan. Down went into the game as underdogs but defied expectation as they put together an impressive 70 minutes of football to win on a scoreline of 1-17 to 0-15.
Semi-Final
The Mournemen would then face Laois in Croke Park in a semi-final. In Down's best performance to date this season they blitzed Laois from the opening throw-in. Goals were not in short supply and when the full-time whistle blew there were 22 points between the sides with the final scoreline reading Down 8-16 Laois 2-12.
Analysis
Down are worthy favourites for this year's Tailteann Cup after the form they have displayed en route to their final spot.
The way they were playing in Croke Park against Laois last time out was something to behold. It's safe to say that they won't have it all their own way against Meath in the final but it's hard to bet against them given recent form.
Their five points was just enough to finish one clear of Clare in the final relegation slot. Meath scored 107 points in the division an average of 15.28 points per match which was the fourth best mark in Division 3.
On the other hand, defensively they were poor conceding 129 points, an average of 18.42 points per game which was only worse than one team (Limerick).
Tailteann Cup Group Stage
They were drawn in Group 2 with Down, Waterford and Tipperary.
Meath went onto top that group thanks to a perfect record of 3 wins from 3 games played. Notably, they beat their Tailteann Cup final opponents Down on a scoreline of 1-11 to 1-09 in the final group game.
Quarter-Final
Their top of the group finish saw them advance straight to a quarter-final where they would play Wexford. Meath proved much too good for Wexford that day and would go on to win by 17 points.
Semi-Final
Meath's most recent outing came against Antrim in the semi-final of this competition. Antrim put it up to the Royal County in this game but in the end Meath did just enough to secure their passage to this year's Tailteann Cup final on a scoreline of Meath 2-16 Antrim 2-14.
Analysis
Despite beating Down earlier on in this competition Meath will go into the final as underdogs. That is more down to just how impressive Down have been since that game than anything else.
The Mournemen are firing on all cylinders but the fact that we've already seen Meath beat them only a few weeks ago it does make a bet on the Royal County here quite tempting.
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2023 Tailteann Cup Odds
Down - Tailteann Cup Favourites
Down go into this year's Tailteann Cup final as the strong favourites at odds of 4/9. Those odds suggest that Down have a 69.2% chance of being the 2023 Tailteann Cup champions.League Form
Down will be playing their league football in Division 3 next year following narrowly missing out on promotion to Division 2 on the final day through points difference.Fermanagh won the division with 12 points from their seven matches, Cavan came second with 10-points and a points difference of +36 Down came third with 10-points and a points difference of +15 after winning five and losing two matches.
Down had the second-best attack in the division with 129 points which is an average of 18.4 points per match only one less than Cavan with 130. However, defensively they were open at the back with their 114 points conceded (an average of 16.28 per match) the fifth worst in the division.
Path To The Final
Down pulled off a surprise early in the Ulster Championship when they beat a dysfunctional Donegal 2-13 to 1-11.Unfortunately from a Down perspective they would go on to lose in the Ulster semi-final to Armagh in a 1-14 to 0-12 points scoreline. That result along with their status as a Division 3 side meant they would play in the Tailteann Cup this year.
Tailteann Cup Group Stage
They might have been eliminated in Round 1 of this competition last year but their solid league form and shock win over Donegal in the Ulster Championship gave them high hopes heading into this year's competition.
The Mournemen were drawn in Group 2 with Meath, Tipperary and Waterford. In the end, Down finished 2nd in the group thanks to two opening round wins, a 2-14 to 1-06 victory over Waterford and a 2-18 to 0-06 win over Tipperary.
Down had a chance at top spot in the group too but were unable to get the better of Meath in the final round where they lost by two points.
Preliminary Quarter-Final
Their 2nd place group finish saw them advance to the preliminary quarter-final against Longford who they beat comfortably by 8 points.
Quarter-Final
That victory over Longford set up a date with early Tailteann Cup favourites Cavan. Down went into the game as underdogs but defied expectation as they put together an impressive 70 minutes of football to win on a scoreline of 1-17 to 0-15.
Semi-Final
The Mournemen would then face Laois in Croke Park in a semi-final. In Down's best performance to date this season they blitzed Laois from the opening throw-in. Goals were not in short supply and when the full-time whistle blew there were 22 points between the sides with the final scoreline reading Down 8-16 Laois 2-12.
Analysis
Down are worthy favourites for this year's Tailteann Cup after the form they have displayed en route to their final spot.
The way they were playing in Croke Park against Laois last time out was something to behold. It's safe to say that they won't have it all their own way against Meath in the final but it's hard to bet against them given recent form.
Meath
Meath have been installed at odds of 13/8 to win this year's Tailteann Cup which makes them the underdogs heading into the final round. Those odds imply that Meath have a 38.1% chance of lifting the Tailteann Cup this July.League Form
Meath will be playing their league football in Division 2 next year following narrowly avoiding relegation to Division 3 after a poor campaign where they had a record of two wins, one draw and four defeats.Their five points was just enough to finish one clear of Clare in the final relegation slot. Meath scored 107 points in the division an average of 15.28 points per match which was the fourth best mark in Division 3.
On the other hand, defensively they were poor conceding 129 points, an average of 18.42 points per game which was only worse than one team (Limerick).
Path To The Final
Meath were knocked out of the Leinster Championship by Offaly in a 1-11 to 0-10 points scoreline at the quarter-final stage in what was an underwhelming display from the Royal County.Tailteann Cup Group Stage
They were drawn in Group 2 with Down, Waterford and Tipperary.
Meath went onto top that group thanks to a perfect record of 3 wins from 3 games played. Notably, they beat their Tailteann Cup final opponents Down on a scoreline of 1-11 to 1-09 in the final group game.
Quarter-Final
Their top of the group finish saw them advance straight to a quarter-final where they would play Wexford. Meath proved much too good for Wexford that day and would go on to win by 17 points.
Semi-Final
Meath's most recent outing came against Antrim in the semi-final of this competition. Antrim put it up to the Royal County in this game but in the end Meath did just enough to secure their passage to this year's Tailteann Cup final on a scoreline of Meath 2-16 Antrim 2-14.
Analysis
Despite beating Down earlier on in this competition Meath will go into the final as underdogs. That is more down to just how impressive Down have been since that game than anything else.
The Mournemen are firing on all cylinders but the fact that we've already seen Meath beat them only a few weeks ago it does make a bet on the Royal County here quite tempting.
Click Below For All Our Tailteann Cup Odds
*Prices subject to fluctuation
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