Career
Born in , , O'Neill first excelled at hurling whilst at school in Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the minor team, before later joining the under-21 side. He has been an All-Ireland runner-up on one occasion.
Club O'Neill was a beneficiary of the under-age hurling boom with between 2003 and 2007. Back-to-back minor championship medals in 2003 and 2004 were followed by back-to-back under-21 championship medals in 2006 and 2007. A 0-20 to 1-11 victory gave him a coveted championship medal.
Inter-county O'Neill first lined out with in the minor grade in 2003. Two years later and O'Neill was appointed captain of the under-21 team. By 2005 O'Neill's performances for the minor and under-21 teams brought him to the attention of the senior selectors.
On 17 June 2007 O'Neill made his senior championship debut in a 5-15 to 3-18 semi-final defeat by Waterford. The following few seasons saw go into decline, however, a highlight for O'Neill was being appointed captain of the team in 2011. O'Neill lined out in his second decider in 2013, however, faced a 0-24 to 0-15 defeat by Limerick.
On 8 September 2013 he lined out against Clare in his first All-Ireland final. Three second-half goals through Conor Lehane, Anthony Nash and Pa Cronin, and a tenth point of the game from Patrick Horgan gave a one-point lead as injury time came to an end. A last-gasp point from corner-back Domhnall O'Donovan earned Clare a 0-25 to 3-16 draw.
The replay on 28 September was regarded as one of the best in recent years. Clare's Shane O'Donnell was a late addition to the team, and went on to score a hat-trick of goals in the first nineteen minutes of the game. Patrick Horgan top scored for , however, further goals from Conor McGrath and Darach Honan secured a 5-16 to 3-16 victory for Clare.
Inter-provincial O'Neill also had the honour of being picked for in the inter-provincial series of games.
