One team (Dublin) received a bye to the semi-finals. The remaining ten teams were drawn to play in one group of four teams and two groups of three teams.
In the four-team group, each team plays the other teams in their group once. Two points are awarded for a win and one for a draw.
In the two three-team groups, each team played the other teams in their group once. Each team also played one game against a team from the other three-team group. Two points are awarded for a win and one for a draw.
The three group winners advanced to the semi-finals.