It replaced the All-Ireland Club Championships as the top level men's field hockey competition in Ireland.

The pool stages were abandoned and replaced with a full league programme consisting of 18 rounds of home and away matches.

In addition the play-offs were effectively replaced by a new competition, the EY Champions Trophy.

The top three placed teams from the league and/or the winners of the Irish Senior Cup all qualify for the end of season competition.

[2] The winners of the EY Champions Trophy qualify to represent Ireland in the Euro Hockey League.