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gaa · Saturday 11 July 2026 · Various 
Tailteann Cup Football Final (Potential)
At Croke Park · Jones Road, Dublin 3
At Croke Park · Jones Road, Dublin 3
The 2026 Tailteann Cup Final brings two counties to Croke Park with plenty at stake. Wicklow - appearing in their first ever Tailteann Cup final - take on Down, who are making their third final appearance in four campaigns. The winner earns promotion to the 2027 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, competing for the Sam Maguire Cup. For Laois supporters who follow the second-tier championship, this is a high-quality provincial showdown well worth the trip to Dublin.
The Tailteann Cup is the GAA’s second-tier intercounty football competition, introduced in 2022 to give counties outside the All-Ireland senior championship a meaningful shot at glory. The standard is competitive and the stakes are real - the winning county steps up to join the elite tier the following season. Wicklow’s run to the final was dramatic; they came from behind in their semi-final to reach their first ever decider, while Down bring considerable experience of this stage. Expect tight, committed Gaelic football in front of a good-humoured crowd at Croke Park, which holds over 82,000 spectators. A championship final day atmosphere, even in the second tier, is hard to beat. Tickets are from EUR 20 through Ticketmaster.
Croke Park is on Jones Road, Dublin 3, about five minutes by car from O’Connell Street and roughly 90 minutes from Laois. From Portlaoise, the M7 north to the M50 and into the city is the straightforward route. Parking around Croke Park is heavily restricted on match days, with clamping enforced in the residential streets - plan to park further out and walk, or use public transport. Bus Eireann runs regular services from Portlaoise to Dublin, and from Dublin city centre the stadium is a short bus or taxi ride. DART and Luas stops within walking distance make the last stretch easy. Arriving early is always wise; the city fills quickly on a GAA final afternoon.
If you are travelling from or through Portlaoise on the way, the town sits at the centre of Co. Laois with easy access to the Rock of Dunamase and Emo Court. There is more to see in Portlaoise and across Co. Laois.
Heading to Croke Park? Laois has plenty more to see. Browse the area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.