[2][3] Westmeath, winner of the 2021 final, were promoted to the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship, replaced by Antrim who were relegated back to this competition.

[5] The top 2 teams from the round robin stage will play off in the final to decide the winner.

[6] Relegated from the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Promoted from the Christy Ring Cup Promoted to the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Relegated to the Christy Ring Cup Initially each of the six teams play the other five teams in single round-robin matches.

The top two teams after the round robin games compete in the Joe McDonagh Cup final.

If the Joe McDonagh champions are a non-Munster team, they are automatically promoted to the following year's Leinster Championship.