The 2013 season was Eamon O'Shea's first year as manager of the Tipperary senior hurling team. On 25 September 2012, he succeeded Declan Ryan as manager. A panel of 26 players was announced in December 2012 to prepare for the Allianz Hurling League. In February Shane McGrath was appointed as captain for the 2013 season.
Tipperary's first Championship game came against Limerick on 9 June, where they were defeated 1âÂÂ18 to 1âÂÂ15 at the Gaelic Grounds.
In phase 2 of the All-Ireland qualifiers on 6 July 2013, Tipperary were eliminated from championship after a 1âÂÂ14 to 0âÂÂ20 defeat to Kilkenny at Nowlan Park.
On 17 October, goalkeeper Brendan Cummins announced his retirement from the Tipperary hurling team after 20 years and 73 championship appearances.
The following players made their senior debut in 2013.
Defending champions Tipperary faced Clare in the final under lights in Thurles on 9 February, with Clare winning by 1âÂÂ21 to 1âÂÂ13.
Tipperary reached the semi-final stage of the hurling league and defeated Dublin by 4âÂÂ20 to 0âÂÂ17 at Semple Stadium on 21 April. As a contest the match was effectively over within the first 10 minutes with Tipperary leading by eight points, 2âÂÂ3 to 0âÂÂ1 with an early goal from Shane Bourke and a further goal from Patrick Maher. Séamus Callanan scored a third goal from a penalty to leave the half time score at 3âÂÂ11 to 0âÂÂ8. A fourth goal came in the last minute of the game from substitute Michael Heffernan after a mistake from the Dublin goalkeeper.
Tipperary were defeated by Kilkenny in the final by 2âÂÂ17 to 0âÂÂ20 on 5 May in Nowlan Park.
Michael Fennelly scored two goals and three points in the first half as Kilkenny led by 2âÂÂ07 to 0âÂÂ11. In the second half Lar Corbett and JJ Delaney were sent off in the 46th minute after they wrestled each other on the ground near the Kilkenny goal.
The game was shown live on TV3. A crowd of 23,307 attended the game in Nowlan Park in Kilkenny on a sunny Saturday evening. The sides were level at half-time on a 1âÂÂ06 to 0âÂÂ09 with Lar Corbett getting the goal for Tipperary after 14 minutes when he finished with a shot to corner of the net when the ball broke to him from ten yards out. Corbett was forced off with a hamstring injury after 28 minutes. Henry Shefflin came on as a substitute for Kilkenny with five minutes remaining as they ran out winners by three points. The game was Brendan Cummins's last match for Tipperary.