Tipperary legend Brendan Maher retires

In an incredible 13 year senior career, Maher won three All-Ireland SHC titles and captained the side to their Liam MacCarthy Cup triumph in 2016.

Brendan Maher of Tipperary celebrates with the Liam MacCarthy cup after defeating Kilkenny in the 2016 All-Ireland final. 

Tipperary legend Brendan Maher has this morning announced his retirement from intercounty hurling.

In an incredible 13 year senior career, Maher won three All-Ireland SHC titles and captained the side to their Liam MacCarthy Cup triumphn in 2016.

The Borris-Ileigh clubman, 32 in January, also won five Muster senior titles as well as three All-Star awards.

He confirmed his retirement this morning by releasing the following statement on the official Tipperary GAA website:

“After 13 years playing with Tipperary, I have decided that now is the right time to announce my retirement from inter-county hurling. It was a huge honour and privilege for me to wear the Tipperary jersey and I am very grateful to have played with so many top-class players and to have enjoyed many successes with them. The inter-county game requires very significant commitment, and I am happy that I can look back on my career with no regrets having given everything that I could during my time with Tipperary.

“Firstly, I want to thank the Tipperary players sincerely, I have made lifelong friendships with so many of them. I am also very grateful to the managers and backroom teams who gave me so much support and guidance.

“As a player, I always received immense support from the Tipperary County Board, Tipperary Supporters Club and Associations, Tipperary team sponsors and the GPA. I want to thank all of them. Thanks also to the Tipperary supporters who I have always been so proud to represent.

“To my club, Borris-Ileigh, where it all began, a huge thank you. I look forward to what the next few years will bring as we continue our journey. My friends have also been hugely supportive of me and helped me in so many ways over the course of my career, for which I am very grateful.

“My parents, Johnny and Anne, have done everything they possibly could to support and encourage me and there are no words to describe my gratitude to them. I have always looked up to my three older brothers, Sean, Declan, and Martin, to whom I am very grateful for instilling such self-belief and will to win in me. My nieces, nephews and extended family have always been very loyal supporters and I want to say thanks to all of them.

“I am very lucky to have had such constant support and encouragement from my fiancée, Aoife. She has helped me get through the toughest of times and being able to share so many wonderful moments with her has made it all extra special.

“Finally, I wish Tipperary all the very best for 2022 and beyond. I have no doubt that the players and management will do everything in their power to bring more success to the county in the years ahead.