Each province determines the format for deciding their champions and it may be league, group, knock-out, double-elimination, etc.
The final four winners from the qualifiers re-enter the All-Ireland championship at the quarter-final stage.
[3] Three of the four Leinster teams (Kildare, Laois and Westmeath) compete in an initial group stage.
[4] The three Munster teams (Cork, Kerry and Waterford) compete in an initial group stage.
A preliminary round is held to reduce the number of teams to eight who then play four matches.