[1] During his studies at the Limerick Institute of Technology, O'Connell was selected for the college's senior hurling team for the Fitzgibbon Cup.
[citation needed] O'Connell first played for Limerick as a member of the minor team on 27 April 2011 in a 2-14 to 0-12 Munster Championship defeat of Cork.
O'Connell subsequently joined the Limerick under-21 hurling team and won a Munster Championship medal in his first season after a 0-22 to 0-19 win over Clare in the final.
[5] O'Connell played for the Limerick intermediate hurling team for the first time on 9 June 2013 in a 0-20 to 0-15 Munster Championship defeat by Tipperary.
On 19 August 2018, he was a member of the extended panel when Limerick won their first All-Ireland title in 45 years after a 3-16 to 2-18 defeat of Galway in the final.