[1][2][3][4] The 2018 championship saw the biggest change in format since the introduction of the "back-door system" for beaten provincial finalists in 1997.

At the GAA Congress in February 2016, it was decided by vote that the age limit for the inter-county minor championship would be reduced from under-18 to under-17.

Under the new format, the championship begins solely on a provincial basis in Munster and Leinster.

While it was expected that Galway would also join the Leinster Championship, they will remain as the sole Connacht representatives.

They will enter the All-Ireland quarter-finals in a round-robin series with the beaten Leinster and Munster finalists.