Career
Born in , County Laois, O'Brien first excelled at hurling in his youth. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the Laois minor team. He joined the senior panel during the 1952 championship.
At club level he is a five-time championship medallist with. Throughout his career O'Brien made 20 championship appearances. He retired following the conclusion of the 1968 championship.
O'Brien is regarded as one of the greatest players of all-time. Club O’Brien played his club hurling with his local club and enjoyed much success. It was the first of three consecutive county titles for O’Brien and his club.
He added two more county medals to his collection in 1960 and 1961. Inter-county O’Brien first came to prominence on the inter-county scene with the Laois minor hurling team. He had little success in this grade and made his senior debut in 1952.
O’Brien’s senior inter-county career was a frustrating one as Laois were down the pecking order in terms of the hurling standard in. In spite of winning the provincial title in 1949, Laois never appeared in another final. O’Brien continued playing with the county until 1969.
Inter-provincial O’Brien also lined out with Leisnter in the inter-provincial hurling competition.
