Cork entered the championship as defending champions, however, they were beaten by Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final.
[1] Kilkenny won the title after defeating Galway by 2–12 to 1–8 in the final.
A total of eleven teams contested the championship, one of the fewest participants in years.
Kildare, Laois and Westmeath withdrew from the provincial campaign, however, Laois did qualify for the All-Ireland series by winning the All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship.
The following matches were broadcast live on television in Ireland on RTÉ.