group contest the Munster final. Qualification for the All-Ireland Championship As of the 2018 championship qualification for the All-Ireland Championship has changed due to the introduction of a quarter-final group stage The Munster champions continue to receive a bye to the All-Ireland semi-final while the defeated Munster finalists enter the All-Ireland quarter-finals. Venues Group stage Fixtures in the five group stage rounds of the championship are played at the home ground of one of the two teams. Each team is guaranteed two home games. These games will be played as curtain raisers to their corresponding senior fixtures. Final The final has historically been played at either Semple Stadium, Páirc Uí Chaoimh or the Gaelic Grounds. As of the 2018 championship, the final will be played at one of these venues as per the home and away agreements between Cork, Limerick and Tipperary at senior level. Managers Managers in the Munster Championship are involved in the day-to-day running of the team, including the training, team selection, and sourcing of players from the club championships. Their influence varies from county-to-county and is related to the individual county boards. The manager is assisted by a team of two or three selectors and an extensive backroom team consisting of various coaches. Prior to the development of the concept of a manager in the 1970s, teams were usually managed by a team of selectors with one member acting as chairman. Trophy and medals The TWA Cup is the current prize for winning the championship. The cup was presented by Trans World Airlines at Shannon Airport in 1946. Prior to this, several different cups and trophies had been presented to winning captains. Traditionally, the victory presentation takes place at a special rostrum in the main grandstand. The cup is decorated with ribbons in the colours of the winning team. During the game the cup actually has both teams' sets of ribbons attached and the runners-up ribbons are removed before the presentation. The winning captain accepts the cup on behalf of his team before giving a short speech. Individual members of the winning team then have an opportunity to come to the rostrum to lift the cup, which is held by the winning team until the following year's final. In accordance with GAA rules, the Munster Council awards up to twenty-six gold medals to the winners of the Munster final. General statistics Performance by county Biggest Munster