The championship was first contested in 1990 when Leitrim became the inaugural winners.
Designed to improve the standard of football in the so-called "weaker" counties,[1] the competition was held for the last time in 2000, as a result of the introduction of the All-Ireland Qualifiers for the 2001 football championship. The qualifier system gave each defeated county a second chance via the "back-door", after losing in the provincial championships.
Format
The championship was played on a straight knockout basis, typically starting in October each year alongside the National League fixtures, then concluding in November or December.