On 13 October 2013, Cooper was captain of the Youghal team that defeated Castlelyons by 0–11 to 0–10 in the premier intermediate championship final.
[3] Cooper first played for Cork at intermediate level on 30 May 2010 when he came on as a substitute in a Munster Championship quarter-final defeat of Tipperary.
[4] By the end of the provincial championship, Cooper had established himself as the team's first-choice centre-forward, winning a Munster medal after a two-point defeat of Waterford.
[6] Cooper made his senior debut for Cork on 27 March 2011, replacing Cian McCarthy for the final 4 minutes of a National League game against Tipperary at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
[8] Cooper missed the following two seasons due to a disc problem in his back but returned to the panel after a 14-month layoff.