The ten Premier Division and eleven First Division clubs were joined by four A Championship teams plus the 2010 Ulster Senior League champions, Cockhill Celtic and the Kerry District League representative side.
For the Preliminary, First and Second Rounds of the competition, all participating clubs were split into 4 regional pools with the further rounds of the competition having an open draw.
Shamrock Rovers, Sligo Rovers, Bohemians and St. Patrick's Athletic all received automatic byes into the second round of the competition due to each club's European football participation.
The draw for the Quarterfinals was made on 2 May 2011 on MNS on RTÉ Two.
The final was played on Saturday 24 September 2011 in Turners Cross, Cork.