Born in Clonmel, County Tipperary, O'Neill first arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the Tipperary minor teams as a dual player, before later joining the under-21 sides. He made his senior debut during the 1977 championship. O'Neill went on to play a key part for Tipperary as a footballer before later spending one championship season with Dublin.[citation needed]
In retirement from playing O'Neill has become involved in team management and coaching. He has been heavily involved in various coaching roles with Ballyboden St Enda's before becoming a selector to the Tipperary senior hurling team in 2012.[2][3] He later took up a coaching role with Westmeath.[4]
