Brendan Maher (born 5 January 1989) is an Irish hurler who plays for club side BorrisâÂÂIleigh and previously at inter-county level with the Tipperary senior hurling team. 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. 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.
Maher studied at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick between 2006 and 2009 and joined the senior hurling team in his second year. On 7 March 2009, he was named man of the match when Mary Immaculate College defeated the University of Ulster by 1âÂÂ12 to 1âÂÂ05 to win the Ryan Cup.
Maher joined the BorrisâÂÂIleigh club at a young age and played at all grades in juvenile and underage levels. 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 BorrisâÂÂIleigh faced Nenagh ÃÂire ÃÂg 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 1âÂÂ12 to 0âÂÂ13 victory.
Maher lined out at right wing-forward when BorrisâÂÂIleigh renewed their rivalry with Nenagh ÃÂire ÃÂg 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 0âÂÂ19 to 0âÂÂ16 victory.
On 2 September 2017, Maher lined out at centre-back when BorrisâÂÂIleigh faced Nenagh ÃÂire ÃÂg in the North Tipperary Championship final once again. He ended the game with a third winner's medal following the 2âÂÂ19 to 0âÂÂ18 victory. On 8 October 2017, Maher was selected at midfield but spent much of the game at centre-back when BorrisâÂÂIleigh faced Thurles Sarsfields in the Tipperary Senior Championship final. He top scored for the team with five points from frees in the 1âÂÂ24 to 0âÂÂ11 defeat.
On 3 November 2019, Maher was at centre-back when BorrisâÂÂIleigh faced Kiladangan in the Tipperary Senior Championship final. He scored three points, including two long-range frees, and collected a winners' medal following the 1âÂÂ15 to 1âÂÂ12 victory. On 24 November 2019, Maher won a Munster Club Championship medal after giving a man of the match display in the 1âÂÂ12 to 1âÂÂ11 defeat of Ballygunner in the final.
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 2âÂÂ14 to 1âÂÂ06 defeat by Limerick.
On 5 April 2006, Maher made his first appearance for the team when he scored three points from midfield in a 2âÂÂ13 to 1âÂÂ08 defeat of Clare. He retained his position at midfield for the Munster final, however, he ended on the losing side following a 2âÂÂ20 to 1âÂÂ15 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 2âÂÂ18 to 2âÂÂ07 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 0âÂÂ18 to 1âÂÂ11 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 3âÂÂ14 to 2âÂÂ11 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 1âÂÂ13 to 0âÂÂ15 defeat of Limerick. On 30 July 2008, Maher won a Munster Championship medal after lining out at left wing-back in a controversial 1âÂÂ16 to 2âÂÂ12 defeat of Clare. He retained his position at left wing-back when Tipperary suffered a 2âÂÂ13 to 0âÂÂ15 defeat by Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final on 14 September 2008.
On 28 July 2010, Maher won a second Munster Championship medal after lining out at left wing-back in Tipperary's 1âÂÂ22 to 1âÂÂ17 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 5âÂÂ22 to 0âÂÂ12 victory in what was his last game in the grade.
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 2âÂÂ15 to 0âÂÂ09 defeat of Cork. On 3 May 2009, Maher came on as an 11th-minute substitute for Declan Fanning in a 2âÂÂ26 to 4âÂÂ17 extra-time defeat by Kilkenny in the National League final. On 31 May 2009, he made his Munster Championship debut when he came on as a 55th-minute substitute for Conor O'Mahony in a 1âÂÂ19 to 0âÂÂ19 defeat of Cork. On 12 July 2009, Maher started the Munster final on the bench but was introduced as a 34th-minute substitute for Paul Curran and ended the game with a winners' medal following the 4âÂÂ14 to 2âÂÂ16 defeat of Waterford. After making his first championship start in the All-Ireland semi-final defeat of Limerick, he was selected at left wing-back for the All-Ireland final against Kilkenny on 6 September 2009. Maher ended on the losing side following a 2âÂÂ22 to 0âÂÂ23 defeat.
On 5 September 2010, Maher was selected at midfield when Tipperary qualified to play Kilkenny in a second successive All-Ireland final. He scored two points from play and was described as "outstanding" after claiming his first All-Ireland medal in the 4âÂÂ17 to 1âÂÂ18 victory. Maher ended the season by being included at midfield on the All-Star team while he was also named Young Hurler of the Year.
A fractured fibula in March 2011 brought Maher's involvement in the latter stages of the National League to an end, while he also missed Tipperary's opening games of the Munster Championship. On 10 July 2011, he won a second Munster Championship medal after coming on as a 63rd-minute substitute for Pádraic Maher in a 7âÂÂ19 to 0âÂÂ19 defeat of Waterford in the Munster final. On 4 September 2011, Maher was selected on the bench when Tipperary faced Kilkenny in a third successive All-Ireland final. He was introduced as a 29th-minute substitute for John O'Keeffe but ended the game on the losing side following a 2âÂÂ17 to 1âÂÂ16 defeat.
On 15 July 2012, Maher lined out at midfield when Tipperary qualified to play Waterford in a second successive Munster final. He ended the game with a third winners' medal in four seasons following a 2âÂÂ17 to 0âÂÂ16 victory.
On 5 May 2013, Maher was selected at midfield when Tipperary faced Kilkenny in the National League final. He scored four points from play but ended on the losing side following a 2âÂÂ17 to 0âÂÂ20 defeat.
Maher was appointed captain of the team for the 2014 season. On 4 May 2014, he captained Tipperary in a second successive National League final against Kilkenny. Maher ended the game on the losing side following a 2âÂÂ25 to 1âÂÂ27 defeat. On 7 September 2014, he captained the team to a 1âÂÂ28 to 3âÂÂ22 draw with Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final. Maher again captained the team from right wing-back for the replay on 27 September 2014, however, he ended the game on the losing side after a 2âÂÂ17 to 2âÂÂ14 defeat. He ended the season by receiving a second All-Star award.
On 12 July 2015, Maher captained Tipperary to a Munster final appearance with Waterford. He was held scoreless from centre-forward but ended the game with a fourth winners' medal following the 0âÂÂ21 to 0âÂÂ16 victory.
Maher retained the Tipperary captaincy for a third successive season in 2016. He claimed a fifth Munster Championship medal on 10 July 2016 after lining out at midfield in a 5âÂÂ19 to 0âÂÂ13 defeat of Waterford in the final. On 5 September 2016, Maher captained Tipperary to a second All-Ireland final meeting in three seasons against Kilkenny. He ended the game with a second All-Ireland medal while he also had the honour of lifting the Liam MacCarthy Cup following a 2âÂÂ29 to 2âÂÂ20 victory. Maher also became only the fifth player ever to captain both a minor and senior hurling team to All-Ireland victory.
On 23 April 2017, Maher lined out in his fourth National League final. He scored a point from midfield but ended the game on the losing side following a 3âÂÂ21 to 0âÂÂ14 victory for Galway.
Maher played in a second successive National League final â his fifth overall â on 8 April 2018. Lining out at midfield, he was held scoreless and ended the game on the losing side following a 2âÂÂ23 to 2âÂÂ17 defeat by Kilkenny.
On 30 June 2019, Maher lined out at right wing-back when Tipperary suffered a 2âÂÂ26 to 2âÂÂ14 defeat by Limerick in the Munster final. On 18 August 2019, he was selected at centre-back when Tipperary faced Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final. Maher ended the game with a third All-Ireland winners' medal following the 3âÂÂ25 to 0âÂÂ20 victory. He ended the season by receiving an All-Star nomination.
On 12 August 2021, Maher announced his retirement from inter-county hurling after 13 years with the team.
Maher was added to the Munster team in advance of the 2012 Railway Cup. He made his first appearance for the team on 19 February 2012 when he lined out at left wing-forward in a 3âÂÂ14 to 1âÂÂ16 defeat by Leinster.
On 3 March 2013, Maher lined out at midfield when Munster qualified to play Connacht in the Railway Cup final. He ended the game with a Railway Cup medal following the 1âÂÂ22 to 0âÂÂ15 victory.
Maher was appointed captain of Munster in his fourth successive season with the team in 2016. On 15 December 2016, he won a second Railway Cup medal after captaining the team from midfield in a 2âÂÂ20 to 2âÂÂ16 defeat of Leinster in the final.
On 19 October 2011, Maher was named on the Ireland squad for the Shinty/Hurling International Series. On 29 October 2011, he lined out at centre-forward when Ireland defeated Scotland on an aggregate scoreline of 3âÂÂ25 to 3âÂÂ19 following a two-game series.
Maher was selected for the Ireland team for the second time in his career on 22 October 2013. He claimed a second winners' medal from right wing-forward following Ireland's 5âÂÂ27 to 2âÂÂ26 aggregate defeat of Scotland on 2 November 2013.
In October 2022, Maher was announced as Offaly senior hurling team performance coach under the management of Johnny Kelly.