Explained: How does the Tailteann Cup work and who is in it?

Although it is the third year of the Tailteann Cup, this is the second year in its current format. Last year's winners, Meath are in the 2024 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship draw as reigning cup champions.

This year's tournament promises to be another fascinating cup with plenty of contenders in the mix.

For those of you wondering how it all works, here is a guide to the format.

Up to 17 teams compete in the cup.

The teams are drawn from the bottom 16 rankings from that season's National Football League, plus New York.

However, if a team in this position qualifies for the final of its provincial championship, that team continues to compete in the same year's All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and does not compete in the Tailteann Cup.

The teams that compete in the Tailteann Cup are split into four round-robin groups, and the top two teams from each group proceed to one of four knockout quarter-finals matches, followed by semi-finals and the final.

The winners of the four quarter-final pairings qualify for the semi-finals, with pairings decided via an open draw.

The final of the Tailteann Cup is currently scheduled three weeks before the All-Ireland Football Final, and is staged at Croke Park.

There is an initial group stage followed by preliminary quarter-finals, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final.

In the preliminary quarter-finals, the second-placed teams from the group stage play the three best third-placed teams from the group stage and New York.

Teams who met in the provincial finals are kept apart in separate preliminary quarter-finals. Four teams are eliminated at this stage while the winners advance to the quarter-finals.

The winners of the preliminary quarter-finals join the first placed