 He remained a fringe player for the next few years, coming on as a blood substitute in the All-Ireland semi-final defeat by Waterford in 2008 to make his Championship debut.In 2009 Stapleton was included on Tipperary's championship starting fifteen for the very first time against Cork.He won his first Munster medal that year as Tipp defeated Waterford by 4-14 to 2-16.