Joe McDonagh Cup

• Games to be played on a 'round-robin' basis.
• The teams finishing in the top two places shall play in the Joe McDonagh Cup Final.
• The two finalists shall qualify for the Liam MacCarthy Cup All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Preliminary Quarter Final against the third placed teams in the Leinster and Munster Senior Hurling Championships with the Joe McDonagh Cup teams having home advantage.
• The winner, if a non Munster Team, shall be promoted to the Leinster Championship and Liam MacCarthy Cup. If the winner is a Munster team, it must win the Play/Off with the bottom team in the Munster Championship Group to gain promotion to the Munster Championship and Liam MacCarthy Cup.
• 5th placed team shall be relegated to the Christy Ring Cup.

Group: Laois, Offaly, Westmeath, Antrim, Kerry

Round 1

Offaly v Laois

Antrim v Kerry

Westmeath bye

Round 2

Laois v Antrim

Westmeath v Offaly

Kerry bye

Round 3 (A)

Westmeath v Kerry

Laois, Offaly, Antrim bye

Round 3 (B)

Offaly v Antrim

Laois, Westmeath, Kerry bye

Round 4

Antrim v Westmeath

Kerry v Laois

Offaly bye

Round 5

Laois v Westmeath

Kerry v Offaly

Antrim bye