Brendan Maher

Brendan Maher (born 5 January 1989) is an Irish hurler who plays for club side Borris–Ileigh and previously at inter-county level with the Tipperary senior hurling team.

He joined the club's senior team as a 16-year-old during the 2005 North Tipperary Championship.

On 7 August 2005, Maher was selected on the bench when Borris–Ileigh faced Nenagh Éire Óg in the North Tipperary Championship final, however, in a late change he was drafted onto the starting fifteen.

He ended the game with a winners' medal after a 1–12 to 0–13 victory.

Maher first played for Tipperary as a member of the minor team during the 2005 Munster Championship.

He was an unused substitute throughout before Tipperary exited the championship on 4 May 2005 following a 2–14 to 1–06 defeat by Limerick.

Maher studied at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick between 2006 and 2009 and joined the senior hurling team in his second year.

On 5 April 2006, Maher made his first appearance for the team when he scored three points from midfield in a 2–13 to 1–08 defeat of Clare.

He retained his position at midfield for the Munster final, however, he ended on the losing side following a 2–20 to 1–15 defeat by Cork.

Maher was switched to left corner-back when Tipperary faced Galway in the All-Ireland final.

He ended the game with a winners' medal following the 2–18 to 2–07 victory.

Maher lined out at right wing-forward when Borris–Ileigh renewed their rivalry with Nenagh Éire Óg in the North Tipperary Championship final on 9 September 2007.

He scored a point from play and claimed a second winners' medal in three seasons following a 0–19 to 0–16 victory.

Maher was again eligible for the minor grade for a third and final season in 2007 and was appointed captain of the team.

On 8 July 2007, he was at left wing-forward when Tipperary won the Munster Championship following an 0–18 to 1–11 defeat of Cork.

On 2 September 2007, Maher was switched to midfield for the All-Ireland final against Cork.

He scored three points from play and claimed a second successive winners' medal following a 3–14 to 2–11 victory.

Maher was drafted onto the Tipperary under-21 team in advance of the 2008 Munster Championship.

He made his first appearance for the team on 17 July 2008 when he lined out at left corner-back in a 1–13 to 0–15 defeat of Limerick.

On 30 July 2008, Maher won a Munster Championship medal after lining out at left wing-back in a controversial 1–16 to 2–12 defeat of Clare.

He retained his position at left wing-back when Tipperary suffered a 2–13 to 0–15 defeat by Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final on 14 September 2008.

On 7 March 2009, he was named man of the match when Mary Immaculate College defeated the University of Ulster by 1–12 to 1–05 to win the Ryan Cup.

Maher joined the Borris–Ileigh club at a young age and played at all grades in juvenile and underage levels.

Maher joined the Tipperary senior team in advance of the 2009 National League.

He made his first appearance for the team on 14 February 2009 when he played at right wing-back in a 2–15 to 0–09 defeat of Cork.

Regarded as one of the great talents of his generation, Maher enjoyed a 13-season career with the Tipperary senior hurling team, won three All-Stars and was a Hurler of the Year nominee in 2010.

On 28 July 2010, Maher won a second Munster Championship medal after lining out at left wing-back in Tipperary's 1–22 to 1–17 defeat of Clare in the final.

He was switched to centre-back for the All-Ireland final against Galway on 11 September 2010.

Maher ended the game with an All-Ireland medal following the 5–22 to 0–12 victory in what was his last game in the grade.

He won eight major trophies in his inter-county career, comprising three All-Ireland Championships, captaining the team in 2016, and five Munster Championships.

A versatile player who switched between attacking and defensive positions, Maher made a combined 124 league and championship appearances.

Maher first came to prominence as a hurler with St Joseph's College in Borrisoleigh.

He played in every grade before eventually joining the senior hurling team and lined out in several Harty Cup campaigns.

On 2 September 2017, Maher lined out at centre-back when Borris–Ileigh faced Nenagh Éire Óg in the North Tipperary Championship final once again.

He ended the game with a third winner's medal following the 2–19 to 0–18 victory.

On 8 October 2017, Maher was selected at midfield but spent much of the game at centre-back when Borris–Ileigh faced Thurles Sarsfields in the Tipperary Senior Championship final.

He top scored for the team with five points from frees in the 1–24 to 0–11 defeat.

On 3 November 2019, Maher was at centre-back when Borris–Ileigh faced Kiladangan in the Tipperary Senior Championship final.

He scored three points, including two long-range frees, and collected a winners' medal following the 1–15 to 1–12 victory.

On 24 November 2019, Maher won a Munster Club Championship medal after giving a man of the match display in the 1–12 to 1–11 defeat of Ballygunner in the final.