Seven teams compete in the Senior Championship out of twenty-seven who competed overall in the Senior, Intermediate and Junior Championships.
The top four teams then contested the semi-finals, in which both 2009 finalists were defeated, defending champions Cork by Galway by one point in a replay and 2009 finalists Kilkenny by National Camogie League 2010 champions Wexford.
For the first time since 2006 the finals did not share a billing with the All-Ireland Under 21 Hurling Championship.
Instead the All Ireland Senior, Intermediate, and Junior championship finals were held on the same day.
When Galway beat Wexford 1-8 to 0-10 in the group stages only to lose the final 1-12 to 1-10, it was the third time in the five years since the championship moved from a knockout system to a round-robin format in 2006 that the runners-up defeated the eventual champions in the group stages.