+ Tipperary county hurling team 2015 seasonManagerEamon O'SheaCaptainBrendan MaherAll-Ireland SHCSemifinalistsMunster SHCWinnersNational LeagueSemi-finalistsWaterford Crystal CupQuarter-finalistsTop scorer ChampionshipSéamus Callanan (5-20)Highest SHC attendance 58,495 (v Galway 16 August)Lowest SHC attendance31,488 (v Limerick 21 June)

The 2015 season was Eamon O'Shea's third and final year as manager of the Tipperary senior hurling team.

In October 2014, O'Shea confirmed that he would stay on for a third year as Tipperary manager. It was also confirmed that Michael Ryan would succeed O'Shea as manager on a two-year term after the conclusion of the 2015 season. Declan Fanning also joined the back-room team for 2015 as a selector. Brendan Maher continued as captain for a second year with Pádraic Maher remaining as vice-captain.

On 15 March, Intersport/Elverys became the new sponsors of Tipperary GAA, a sponsorship that covers both the hurling and football codes and includes all grades from minor to senior inter-county teams for the next two years. The new look Tipperary jersey for the 2015 season was unveiled displaying the Intersport brand name on the front and their co-sponsor Elvery's name on the back. The was used for the first time against Kilkenny on 15 March in the National League.

On 17 April, it was announced that Noel McGrath would undergo surgery to help treat testicular cancer. He returned to the Tipperary panel in August and came on as a substitute in the All-Ireland Semi-final defeat to Galway.

2015 senior hurling management team

NamePositionClubEamon O'SheaManagerKilruane McDonaghsMichael RyanAssistant ManagerUpperchurch-DrombanePaudie O’NeillCoachSt Mary'sDeclan FanningSelectorKillenauleKieran McGeeneyBack room teamMullaghbawn

2015 squad

The following players made their competitive senior debut in 2015. Joe O'Dwyer against Dublin on 15 February John McGrath against Galway on 22 February John Meagher against Galway on 22 February Bill Maher against Limerick on 21 June

The Tipperary squad returned home from a pre-season holiday to Dubai on 5 January. It was confirmed on 7 January that Michael Cahill and James Barry would miss the majority of the National Hurling League. Barry had an operation to cure a hip problem and Cahill will have surgery on a similar problem. John Meagher, Michael Breen, and Bill Maher have been added to the Tipperary squad from the extended squad in 2014. Five newcomers were also named in the squad: David Butler, Liam Treacy, John McGrath, Sean Maher and Joe O’Dwyer.

Challenge Games On 11 January, Tipperary defeated Wexford by 2–15 to 0–16 in a Senior Hurling Challenge game played in Cashel. Wexford led by 0–10 to 1–4 at half time with the aid of the breeze. David Butler got the goal for Tipperary with the goal. Conor Kenny got the second goal as Tipperary won by five points. On 17 May, Tippeary lost on a 3–18 to 2-22 scoreline in a challenge at Upperchurch-Drombane GAA club, held to mark the opening of new facilities at the ground.

2015 Waterford Crystal Cup

Summary Séamus Callanan spared Tipperary's blushes with a second-half hat-trick of goals as Tipperary defeated Mary Immaculate College Limerick by 4–16 to 1–16 in the preliminary round of the Waterford Crystal Cup on 9 January. David Butler scored four points from corner forward after recently being added to the panel. Eamon O’Shea handed starts to newcomers Joe O’Dwyer, Stephen Maher, Liam Treacy, Sean Maher and David Butler. On 18 January, Tipperary travelled to O'Garney Park in Sixmilebridg to take on Clare in the Quarter-finals. In front of a crowd of 1,342, Tipperary lost the game by a point on a 0–15 to 0-16 scoreline. Clare led by 0–8 to 0–7 at half-time. An injury-time point from Colin Ryan was the crucial score to give Clare the victory.

Results

2015 National Hurling League

Squad

Summary Tipperary started their league campaign on 15 February with an away game against Dublin which was shown live on TG4. Tipperary lost the game by twelve points on a 2–20 to 0-14 scoreline. Tipperary had started with 11 of the side that lost the previous years All-Ireland final to Kilkenny, and were 1–11 to 0-5 down at half time.

Speaking after the game Tipperary manager Eamon O’Shea said "It was a bad performance and I have no excuses, none, It concerns me alright. Dublin played some really good hurling and it was the opposite for us. We were reasonably optimistic coming here. We're only hurling one day a week at the moment, but I wouldn't use that as an excuse, We were beaten by a team who wanted to win the ball more than we did, so we're disappointed."

A week later on 22 February, Tipperary beat Galway by four points in 1–18 to 0–20 win at Semple Stadium. Tipperary were 10 points ahead with 25 minutes remaining before Galway came back. Speaking after the game to RTÉ Sport, Tipperary manager Eamon O’Shea said "The wind was swirling, and it was raining at times, So, it could have gone either way. We got a cushion after half-time, and it saw us over the line."

Next up on 8 March was an away game against Clare in Ennis. The game was shown live on TG4. At half-time, Tipperary were leading by 0–13 to 0-09. Tipperary won the game by 2–19 to 0–20 with James Woodlock getting the crucial second goal, shooting into the top corner of the net when he was sent clear by Séamus Callanan. Tipperary manager Eamon O'Shea was happy that his players' hard work paid off against Clare saying "t was good and I'm delighted for them because they've been working really hard all the time. The league goes up and down, I wouldn't be thinking everything's fine just because you win one or your lose one, I think the nature of the league is that, as you saw with Dublin and Cork yesterday, it will fluctuate. I'm just happy but again I'll say it's early March and the pitches don't run as quick."

On 15 March Tipperary defeated Kilkenny by 2–22 to 1–13 to qualify for the quarter-finals of the league with a game to spare. Goals in either half from Séamus Callanan and Niall O’Meara made it three wins in a row for Tipperary. The win was their first victory over Kilkenny since a League win two years previous, and just their second in the last 12 League and championship games against Kilkenny.

The last game against Cork took place on 22 March in Páirc Uí Rinn. Tipperary were losing by twelve points with fifteen minutes remaining, but came back to win by one point for their fourth league win in a row. Cork had led by 0–15 to 0–13 at half time. Tipperary manager Eamon O'Shea said that his side could easily have lost and attributed their come-from-behind one-point win to the players' belief and never-say-die attitude. Tipperary finished as division 1A winners and top seeds and played division 1B's fourth-placed team Offaly, in the quarter-finals on 29 March in Tullamore. Tipperary won the game on a 1–16 to 0-13 scoreline to qualify for a semi-final against Waterford on 19 April at Nowlan Park in Kilkenny. Kieran Bergin sustained an ankle ligament damage injury in the game and will miss the remainder of the League, while Seamus Callanan received a straight red card for an off the ball strike two minutes into the second half. Tipperary had a 1–14 to 0-4 half time lead in the game. Cathal Barrett received a second yellow card with six minutes to play with Tipperary finishing the game with thirteen men. Tipperary officials appealed against the red card received by Seamus Callananin was rejected by the GAA's Central Hearings Committee (CHC) on 2 April. The committee also turned down Cathal Barrett's appeal against the first of two yellow cards he was shown. On 6 April, the Tipperary panel left for hot weather training in Spain, returning on 11 April. On 16 April, Seamus Callanan's red card decision was rescinded by the CAC clearing him to play in the league semi-final against Waterford. The semi-final will be shown live on TG4. In the semi-final Tipperary lost by one point on a 2–15 to 1-19 scoreline after leading by 2–8 to 0–11 at half-time. Eamon O’Shea felt Tipperary were a bit flat during the game, saying "I thought during the week that we were a little bit off, but you never know for sure until the match comes along, Even when we were ahead I thought we were lacking energy and lacking composure, so I'd say we were a bit flat. Why? I'm not sure, it's very early after a game to be assessing that. Having said that they were beaten by a team that performed well on the day, good energy, good movement and so I'd have no complaints. I thought we might sneak it there with the extra-time because I did think we came back well, but having said that I think we have got something out of the league."

Results

2015 Munster Senior Hurling Championship Tipperary were drawn to take on the winners of the Munster quarter-final between Clare and Limerick in a game which will be held on 21 June at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. Limerick beat Clare on a 1–19 to 2-15 scoreline.

On 30 April the Tipperary senior panel was reduced in size with former captain Paul Curran being cut from the panel. Tom Stapleton, Shane Bourke, David Butler, Micheal Butler, Bill Maher, Sean Maher, Stephen Maher, Joe O’Dwyer and Liam Treacy were also released from the squad. On 1 May Paul Curran announced his retirement from inter-county hurling.

The match against Limerick was played in front of a bumper crowd in excess of 30,000, and was shown live on RTÉ2 on The Sunday Game live with commentary from Ger Canning and Michael Duignan .

Tipperary were hoping to win their first Munster Championship match since the final in 2012.

The Tipperary team was announced on Friday 19 June with John O’Dwyer starting following a recent injury scare. Eleven of the side that started the 2014 All Ireland Final replay were named in the team.

Limerick playing with the wind in the first half opened up a three-point lead after nine minutes before Tipperary came into the game to lead by six points at half time on a 2–12 to 0-12 scoreline. Seamus Callanan scored both of the goals in the first half for Tipperary with two low shots to the net. Tipperary failed to score in the first fourteen minutes of the second half as Limerick narrowed to the lead to one point on a 2–12 to 1-14 scoreline, the Limerick goal coming from a penalty by Shane Dowling after Darren Gleeson had made three saves previous to the foul for the penalty. Tipperary came back into the game with Jason Forde getting their first point before they went on to win the final 20 minutes of the game by 2–11 to 0–2.

Jason Forde got the third goal for Tipperary with a low shot to the corner from the left with substitute Michael Breen getting the fourth goal in injury time. The 16-point win was Tipperary's biggest Munster Championship success over Limerick for 53 years. John O'Dwyer was named as the man of the match on the Sunday game by Dónal O'Grady and Brendan Cummins.

Tipperary manager Eamon O'Shea speaking after the game said "I'm proud of the players, the players are really good and working with these boys is such a joy. It gives me energy and that's why I really want to see them do well. But for me? I'm not in the picture here. The players are the real heroes and I just sit and watch them. They have an awful lot to do yet to get anywhere where they want to be but it's never about the manager, ever." O'Shea also admitted he was surprised by the 16-point winning margin saying ""It probably was more emphatic than we thought. I thought there was still a lot of hurling left in the game. I thought we held our nerve when they came back at us and showed a lot of resilience. The experience gained over the last couple of years has been really good for us, you know?"

Tipperary played Waterford in the Munster Final on 12 July at Semple Stadium.

In the final Tipperary won by five points on a 0–21 to 0-16 scoreline. The win was Tipperary's 41st Munster Senior title and first since 2012.