Butler first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Tipperary minor hurling team in the late 1990s. He won a Munster medal in this grade as a substitute in 1997, however, there was no further success in the All-Ireland series. Four years later in 2001 Butler was captain of the Tipperary under-21 team that lost the Munster final to Limerick. The following year Butler made his senior competitive debut in a National Hurling League game against Cork. It would be 2004, however, before Butler made his senior championship debut against Waterford. In 2008 Butler collected National Hurling League and Munster Senior Hurling Championship medals. Butler was not selected for the Tipperary squad for 2009.
