A former student at Leith Academy, McNeil drew early inspiration towards goalkeeping from watching Jim Leighton play for his local side, Hibs.
McNeil agreed to be released from his contract when new Saints manager George Burley signed a rival young goalkeeper, Bartosz Białkowski, in January 2006.
[5] McNeil made his debut for Hibs in a 2–0 victory over Dunfermline Athletic on 30 December 2006[6] after manager John Collins had dropped Zbigniew Małkowski.
[7] He played in most of the games between then and the end of the season, including the 2007 Scottish League Cup Final, for which he received a winner's medal.
McNeil produced some good performances in this second period in the team, but lost his place early in the 2008–09 season after Ma-Kalambay returned.
McNeil signed a pre-contract agreement to join First Division club Raith Rovers at the official end of the 2009–10 season on 16 May.
[12] McNeil played regularly in a Raith side that challenged for promotion to the SPL,[13] but the club were overhauled by Fife derby rivals Dunfermline in the final weeks of the season.
After leaving Raith Rovers, McNeil was selected for the Great Britain team participating in the 2011 World University Games.