The second-placed team can achieve promotion by winning a play-off against a Division 1 club.
The team that finishes at the bottom of the league is relegated to Junior football.
The competition was launched in 1978 when Louth GAA introduced the Intermediate football grade, situated between Senior and Junior levels.
A final to determine the winner was held each year until 1995, when the format changed.
The captain of the winning team receives the McShane Cup,[2] named after Jimmy McShane, a former county board official and Lann Léire club member.