On 23 March 2013, the GAA's annual Congress adopted a proposal from the Central Competition Controls Committee (CCCC) which sought to introduce a round-robin qualifying group in Leinster for five designated counties.

Ten counties competed in the 2013 Leinster championship; however, the CCCC proposal decreased the Leinster competition to a field of five regulars, namely Kilkenny, Dublin, Wexford, Offaly and Galway, alongside two more from a round-robin qualifying group featuring Laois, Westmeath, Carlow, London and Antrim.

In the first year of a deal running from 2014 until 2016, a total of 45 provincial and All-Ireland championship matches in hurling and football were broadcast live on television in Ireland.

[20][21][22][23][24][25] The first game to be broadcast by Sky Sports was the Leinster quarter-final between Kilkenny and Offaly in Nowlan Park on Saturday 7 June.

[26][27] Rachel Wyse and Brian Carney were announced as presenters of Sky's coverage, with Dave McIntyre and Mike Finnerty as commentators.

[34] Despite massive interest in the Leinster hurling semi-final replay between Kilkenny and Galway on 28 June, the game will not be shown live on television.

The decision by the GAA to grant access to satellite broadcasting company BSkyB of Championship hurling was criticised in some quarters.