Career
Born in Kilmore, County , O'Neill first excelled at hurling in his youth. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of twenty when he first linked up with the Limerick under-21 team. He made his senior debut during the 1965 championship.
He was an All-Ireland runner-up on one occasion. At club level O'Neill played with Kilmore-Rathangan. Throughout his career O'Neill made 5 championship appearances.
He retired from inter-county hurling following the conclusion of the 1967 championship. Inter-county O'Neill joined the under-21 team as captain in 1965. A 7-9 to 1-5 trouncing of Dublin gave him his first Leinster medal in that grade.
Reigning champions Tipperary were the opponents in the subsequent All-Ireland final, however, a 3-7 to 1-4 victory gave O'Neill an All-Ireland medal. retained their provincial crown in 1966, with O'Neill collecting a second Leinster medal following a 7-10 to 2-8 demolition of Laois. On 2 October 1966 faced Cork in the All-Ireland decider at Nowlan Park, however, a 3–12 to 5–6 draw was the result. The replay took place two weeks later, however, the sides couldn't be separated once again after a 4–9 apiece draw.
At the third time of asking Cork finally triumphed following a huge 9–9 to 5–9 victory. O'Neill made his senior championship debut on 11 July 1965 in a 1-15 to 2-6 Leinster semi-final defeat of Laois. Tipperary were 's opponents in the subsequent All-Ireland final on 5 September 1965, however, the game failed to live up to the two classic games between the two sides in 1960 and 1962.
Victory went to Tipperary on that occasion by 2–16 to 0–10, courtesy of a brace of goals by Seán McLoughlin. After a defeat by Kilkenny in the Leinster decider in 1967, O'Neill retired from inter-county hurling.
