[1][2] The National Hurling League's top division featured sixteen teams divided into two groups - 1A and 1B.

The top two teams in Division 1A advance to the semi-finals.

The third- and fourth-placed teams in 1A, as well as the top two from 1B, play in the quarter-finals.

Down at the other end of the tables, Dublin won just one of their group stage games and were relegated to Division 1B.

They swapped places with Galway who, having enjoyed an unbeaten run in the group stage, topped Division 1B and gained promotion to the top eight in Division 1A for the following season.