The first matches of the season were played on 14 October 2007 and the championship ended on 17 March 2008.

Ballyhale Shamrocks went into the 2007–08 championship as defending champions, having won their fourth All-Ireland title the previous year.

The championship culminated with the All-Ireland final, held at Croke Park, Dublin.

Each of the eighteen participating counties entered their respective club champions.

The format of the competition was as follows: A total of 18 county club champions participated in the 2008–09 championship: The Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster championships were played as usual on a straight knock-out basis.