The 2020 season was Liam Sheedy's second year in charge since returning as manager of the Tipperary senior hurling team, having been previously in charge from 2008 to 2010.
The team were sponsored by world leading CEO advisory firm Teneo for the second year in a deal worth up to €180,000 a year on a rolling 12-month contract.
Tipperary are the defending All-Ireland champions and were attempting to retain the title for the first time since 1965.
On 13 December 2019, Eoin Kelly was added as a selector on the team having been a free-taking coach in 2019. Also former manager Eamon O'Shea took up a role as Performance Director having been part of the backroom team in 2019.
The team traveled to Mexico and New York in January for their team holiday, returning on 15 January.
On 9 March, the day after their final league game against Galway, the Tipperary panel and management flew to Alicante for a weeks warm weather training, returning to Shannon Airport on 13 March. The travelling party stayed in private accommodation where there were no other residents and remained in this private location for the duration of their stay. The team went into self-isolation after returning due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was the first year of COVID-19 affecting the season match schedule, no supporters were allowed to attend championship matches.
2020 senior hurling management team
2020 squad
The following players made their competitive senior debut in 2020.
Paddy Cadell against Limerick on 25 January. Bryan O'Mara against Limerick on 25 January. Craig Morgan against Limerick on 25 January. Dillon Quirke against Limerick on 25 January. Jamie Moloney against Limerick on 25 January. Brian McGrath against Waterford 1 March. Paul Maher against Galway 8 March.
2020 Munster Senior Hurling League
Tipperary opened their season on 15 December with a one-point defeat to Clare in the opening group game of the 2020 Munster Senior Hurling League at MacDonagh Park. The match was shown live on the Irish Examiner website. On 20 December, Tipperary played their second game in the competition against Limerick in the Gaelic Grounds. They lost by 2–22 to 1–17 in front of a crowd of 1,628. The match was also shown live on the Irish Examiner website.
Results
2020 National Hurling League
Summary
Tipperary started their league campaign on 25 January with an evening match against Limerick in Semple Stadium in front of 11,867, the game was televised live by Eir Sport. Tipperary began the match with 8 of the All Ireland winning fifteen but started the league campaign without the Borris-Ileigh players after there loss the week before in the All-Ireland Club Hurling Championship Final. They lost the game by 0–18 to 2-14 after having a nine-point lead at half-time 0–13 to 0-4 and then a ten-point lead early in the second half.
A week later on 1 February, Tipperary played Cork in the second round of the league at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, the game was televised live by Eir Sport and RTE 2. Cork won the game 2–24 to 1–25 in front of 9,821. Tipperary goalkeeper Brian Hogan scored a penalty, four minutes from the end of regulation time, to make it a one-point match, before Cork scored again late to win by two. John O'Dwyer went off late in the game with an injury which turned out to be nothing serious after visiting hospital
Tipperary traveled north to play Antrim in a challenge on 8 February before their third game of the league against Galway on 26 February. The Galway game was called off due to the effects of Storm Dennis.
On 23 February, Tipperary played Westmeath in round 3. The game was moved from Nenagh to Semple Stadium and Tipperary won the game on a 3–27 to 0-16 scoreline in front of 2436. They had a 2–14 to 0–07 lead at half-time after goals from Cian Darcy and Jake Morris.
On 1 March, Tipperary played Waterford in round 4 at Semple Stadium. The game was shown live on TG4. The previous week, seven players departed from the panel, Jason Ryan, Mark McCarthy, Killian O’Dwyer, Paul Maher (Moyne), Tom Fox, Conor Hammersley and Jamie Moloney. Two Waterford players, Austin Gleeson and Kevin Moran were sent off before Cathal Barrett was shown a red card in the first half after an umpire reported an off the ball incident with Dessie Hutchinson. Tipperary had an 0–14 to 1–8 lead at half time and went on to win by 0–24 to 2-16.