2026 squad

At the end of November 2025, manager Liam Cahill announced a training panel with 15 players added to the panel from 2025.

Former All-Star goalkeeper Brian Hogan returned after spending the last three years in Australia, with seven players promoted from the under 20 panel, Mason Cawley (Nenagh Eire Og), Adam Daly (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams), Joe Egan (Moycarkey/Borris), Cathal English (Father Sheehy’s), Tom Delaney (Borris-Ileigh), Cathal O’Reilly (Holycross/Ballycahill), and Adam Ryan (Arravale Rovers). Adam Hall, Kevin McCarthy, Darragh Tynan, Brian Og O’Dwyer, Charlie Ryan have also been added to the training panel with recalls also for former seniors Jack Leamy and Paddy Creedon.

Four players left the panel, Conor Bowe, Kieran Cummins, Gavin O’Halloran and Danny Slattery. ^[8]

On 20 January, ahead of the start of the National Hurling League, manager Liam Cahill named a panel of 43 players for the league, which included 13 new players added to the panel since last year. Five sets of brothers are included in the panel, the McGrath’s, McCormack’s, and Stakelum’s, joined this year by the McCarthy’s and Morgan’s, with Kevin McCarthy and Aaron Morgan joining their brothers Darragh McCarthy and Craig Morgan in the panel. ^[9]

Noel McGrath returned for his 18th season with Ronan Maher remaining as captain with Jake Morris also returning as vice-captain. ^{[10] [11]}

The following players made their competitive senior debut in 2026.

• Cathal O'Reilly against Galway on 24 January.
• Jack Leamy against Galway on 24 January.
• Stefan Tobin against Galway on 24 January.
• Paddy McCormack against Offaly on 1 February.
• Adam Daly against Offaly on 1 February.
• Cathal English against Offaly on 1 February.
• Keith Ryan against Limerick on 21 February.

Summary

The Co-Op Superstores Munster Senior Hurling League began in early January. ^[12] Tipperary played Waterford in their first match of the year on 3 January in Fethard Town Park Grass Pitch. The game had been originally scheduled to take place at the Clonmel Sportsfield at 2pm, but due to a frozen pitch it was changed to Fethard for a 3.15pm start. Tipperary started the game with four starters from the 2025 All-Ireland final win over Cork, Robert Doyle, Michael Breen, Bryan O’Mara and Andrew Ormond, as well as three players who came on as substitutes, Alan Tynan, Oisín O’Donoghue and Darragh Stakelum. Capacity for the match was limited to a maximum of 2,000 supporters and was sold-out. Tipperary scored a goal in the first half when Paddy Creedon fired low to the net and had a 1-11 to 0-7 lead at half-time, and also led by eight points with ten minutes of normal time remaining. However the match ended in a draw, 1-18 to 1-18 with a late Jack Leamy free rescuing the draw for Tipperary. ^[13]

On 11 January, Tipperary played Kerry in their second game of the Munster Hurling League in Austin Stack Park in Tralee. Tipperary needed a 38 point win to reach to the final after Waterford had defeated Kerry by 6-25 to 0-6 four days earlier. ^[14] Manager Liam Cahill included 17 of the 2025 All-Ireland winning panel in the matchday squad and 8 starters from the All-Ireland final win. ^[15] In wet conditions, Kerry had a one point lead at half-time before Oisin O’Donoghue’s scored a goal for Tipperary in the 47th minute with a low shot to the net from an angle with Tipperary going on to win by 1-16 to 1-7, but failing to qualify for the final. ^[16]

Results

Summary

The National Hurling League started in late January with Tipperary's opening game was against Galway, managed by Micheál Donoghue on Saturday 24 January at Semple Stadium. ^[17] The match was shown live on RTÉ2. ^{[18] [19]} Manager Liam Cahill named his team for the match on 23 January, with 10 players that started the 2025 All-Ireland Hurling final named to start. ^{[20] [21]}

Results