Born in Lisdoonvarna, County Clare, Dillon first played competitive hurling during his schooling at the Cistercian College, Roscrea. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of twenty when he first linked up with the Offaly senior team, before later lining out with the Dublin and Clare sides. He made his senior debut in the 1946 championship. Dillon went on to enjoy a sporadic career over the next decade, and won one Oireachtas medal. He was an All-Ireland runner-up as a non-playing substitute on one occasion.[citation needed]
