15 teams compete: 10 county teams from Leinster, Ulster and Connacht (Kilkenny, Laois, Wexford, Galway, Offaly, Dublin, Meath, Carlow, Antrim, Westmeath) and five third-level colleges: UCD, DIT, NUI Galway, IT Carlow and DCU. Kilkenny fielded teams composed mainly of under 21 players managed by u21 manager
Eddie Brennan. The teams are drawn into four groups, one of three teams and three of four teams. Each team plays the other teams in its group once, earning 2 points for a win and 1 for a draw. The four group winners progress to the semi-finals. ==Fixtures/results==