Born in Aghabullogue, County Cork in 1863, Drew was educated at the local national school and later worked as a railway guard with the Cork and Muskerry Light Railway.
[citation needed] Drew first played competitive hurling with the Aghabullogue club and won his sole county senior championship medal in 1890.
This success allowed the club to represent Cork in the inter-county championship and Drew was a key member of the forwards.
[1] Drew returned to the Cork team in 1892 and, along with his team-mate Pat Buckley, became the first players to win two All-Ireland medals on the field of play.
Drew played his last game for Cork in March 1892.