Stakelum quickly became involved with the Borris–Ileigh team at underage levels, winning minor and under-21 county championship medals.
Stakelum made his debut on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he joined the Tipperary minor team in 1986.
After playing his last game for Tipperary in August 1993, he was recalled to the panel for one final season in 1995.
His brother, Richard Stakelum, and his first cousins, Bobby and Aidan Ryan, also enjoyed All-Ireland success with Tipperary.
[2][3] In his debut season in this role he helped guide Tipperary to All-Ireland and Munster successes.