[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] The championship was notable for the qualification of Offaly for the All-Ireland semi-final just three years after they had been graded junior.
Clare won the Munster championship for the first time since 1944, beating Cork in the final.
Brendan Williams became Kilkenny manager as Ann Downey departed after four seasons in charge.
Two Women's Irish Hockey League players played in the championship, Naomi Carroll of Clare and of Emer Lucey of Dublin.
The new structure threw up several surprises not least being Offaly’s progression to the semi-final despite finishing joint bottom of the group stages.
For the third year in succession Galway defeated the eventual champions in the group stages, but having lost the previous two All- Ireland finals to the same opposition, they failed to reach the final thanks to a late surge by Cork in the semi-final.