and under-21 English first played for Tipperary as a member of the minor football team in 1979. He was eligible for that grade once again the following year, while he also joined the Tipperary minor hurling team. He won a Munster medal that year following a 1–17 to 1–4 defeat of Limerick. The subsequent All-Ireland decider pitted Tipperary against Wexford. A 2–15 to 1–10 victory gave English an All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship medal. By 1981 English had joined the Tipperary under-21 team. He won a Munster medal that year following a 1–15 to 0–10 defeat of Cork, before later lining out in the All-Ireland decider. A 2–16 to 1–10 defeat of Kilkenny gave English an All-Ireland medal in that grade. English won a second Munster medal in 1983 following a 2–17 to 3–8 defeat of Clare, however, Tipperary were later bested by Galway in the All-Ireland decider. Senior English made his senior debut on 30 May 1982 in a 1–19 to 2–8 Munster semi-final defeat by Cork. It was a difficult era for the Tipperary senior team, who had gone a decade without All-Ireland or provincial success. His second championship season also brought an early exit, while Tipperary lost back-to-back Munster titles to Cork in 1984 and 1985. In spite of these defeats, English's contribution to the game was acknowledged at the end of each year when he collected three successive All-Star awards. In 1987 English lined out in a third provincial decider, as Tipperary seemed to be improving under new manager "Babs" Keating. Cork provided the opposition and were going for a record-breaking sixth successive championship, however, early in the second half English scored a remarkable goal when he kicked the sliotar to the net after losing his hurley. That famous score put Tipperary ahead by seven points, however, Cork came roaring back to salvage a 1–18 apiece draw. English was also on hand in the replay to snatch a late goal to secure another draw and send the game to extra-time. Substitute Michael Doyle bagged two more goals while Donie O'Connell made it four to secure a 4–22 to 1–22 victory. It was English's first Munster medal, while he was later presented with a fourth All-Star. English added a league medal to his collection in 1988 following a 3–15 to 2–9 defeat of Offaly. He later won a second successive Munster medal as Cork were easily accounted for