Tailteann Cup 2026 Team of the Year

It’s a case of six of the best for Wicklow as their history-making champions headline the 2026 Tailteann Cup team of the year, announced today.

The Garden County’s epic run to the Croke Park final and their sensational second-half comeback to stun a fancied Down is heavily reflected in a high calibre team of the season, that is spread across five counties.

Wicklow’s first-ever Tailteann Cup triumph sees rock solid Malachy Stone and the anchor man that is Eoin Murtagh named in defence, with their inspirational captain Dean Healy named in midfield.

Up front, Pádraig O’Toole’s influence sees him selected at centre-forward while the workload and reliability over the course of the whole campaign merits inclusions for Oisín McGraynor and Kevin Quinn.

The increase in competitiveness brought by the new format made the selection all the more difficult. Beaten finalists Down were at times, unstoppable, and they have five men on the final 15 with goalkeeper Ronan Burns seeing off stiff competition to be named and joined by Pierce Laverty and Shane Annett in defence after their major contributions.

In midfield, Odhran Murdock was a pivotal figure for the Mourne men, while Eamon Brown’s attacking instincts are also recognised.

Offaly used the Tailteann Cup to revive their season and there are richly deserved places for hard working forwards Dylan Hyland and Jack McEvoy.

Eoin Porter won rave reviews for his displays, and the Wexford defender is a worthy winner.

Uachtarán CLG Jarlath Burns said: “A competition now firmly fixed in our calendar, this Tailteann Cup Team of the Year is equally well-established and recognises those players who went above and beyond to leave a lasting impression on the season. It was an unforgettable year for Wicklow, winning a final that will go down as one of the very best ever witnessed at Croke Park. The increase in games makes the job of naming an overall team much more difficult and I congratulate all of those chosen, and thank them for all they have done to make this competition a success.”

Tom Parsons, CEO of the GPA, added: “Congratulations to the 15 players named on the Tailteann Cup Team of the Year. Your performances stood out in a competitive championship, and this recognition is well earned.

“To trail by 12 points at half-time in a Croke Park final and come back to win says a lot about the character in that Wicklow group, and their six selections are well deserved. Their first Tailteann Cup title also brings a place in the Sam Maguire Cup in 2027. Down played their full part in a memorable final, and their five selections follow the two Down hurlers named on the Joe McDonagh Team of the Year earlier this week. Congratulations also to the Offaly, Wexford and Fermanagh men who complete the team. The Tailteann Cup continues to grow in stature, and that is down to the commitment of the players, managers, county boards and supporters who have backed it.

“Thank you to all involved and to the selection committee who deliberated on this final 15.”

The Tailteann Cup Team of the Year was chosen by a panel of Gaelic games correspondents, with nominations supplied by GPA player representatives from the competing counties. The team will be honoured tonight at Croke Park along with the Joe McDonagh and Champion 15 teams of the year announced earlier this week. The black-tie celebration will also reveal the overall players of the Year in the Tailteann Cup and McDonagh, Ring, Rachard and Meagher Cups.

Tailteann Cup 2026 Team of the Year

1 Ronan Burns - Down

2 Malachy Stone - Wicklow

3 Pierce Laverty - Down

4 Eoin Porter - Wexford

5 Ronan McCaffrey - Fermanagh

6 Eoin Murtagh - Wicklow

7 Shane Annett - Down

8 Dean Healy - Wicklow

9 Odhran Murdock - Down

10 Dylan Hyland - Offaly

11 Pádraig O'Toole - Wicklow

12 Jack McEvoy - Offaly

13 Oisín McGraynor - Wicklow

14 Kevin Quinn - Wicklow

15 Eamon Brown - Down