born in gowran, county kilkenny, maher first played competitive hurling during his schooling at st. kieran's college. he arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of twenty-three when he first linked up with the kilkenny senior team. he made his senior debut during the 1945 championship. maher had a brief inter-county career and won one leinster medal as a non-playing substitute. he was an all-ireland runner-up on one occasion.