Ready for launch: Tailteann Cup teams prepare amid some uncertainty

A slice of history will be made on 15 May as the first ever Tailteann Cup draw is conducted at the new tournament's official launch.

For the GAA, the draw can’t really go much worse than the inaugural one for the Tommy Murphy Cup back in 2004.

Like the Tailteann Cup, it aimed to provide a serious tier-two championship but the reception was more ice cold than lukewarm.

The draw was initially postponed to allow Cavan to come to a decision on their participation, and ultimately the Breffni County opted out as their players decided to focus on club commitments. That opened the door for Wexford to enter, but they also opted to give it a pass to deal with their own club congestion.

Leitrim decided to give it a miss too as the GAA were unable to meet their request to stage their first-round game on a Sunday.

That left five teams in the draw, but only four teams ended up competing as London withdrew ahead of their scheduled quarter-final with Clare.

John Kennedy’s Banner County would go on to win the competition, beating Sligo in the final at Croke Park and receiving a trip to Boston for their troubles, but there would only be five instalments of the competition in all.

At the 2008 GAA Congress, Wicklow club An Tochar’s motion to have those 'weaker’ teams regrouped with the qualifiers passed with flying colours.

Former GAA President Sean Kelly, who pushed for the Tommy Murphy Cup while in office, said after the cancellation that "one thing’s for sure - a number of counties failed to see the bigger picture".

How the Tailteann Cup teams view that particular picture remains to be seen, but up to 17 teams are expected to be in Monday’s draw. Any late withdrawals would be a genuine shock this time around. The new fixture calendar also ensures