O'Connell first played hurling at juvenile and underage levels with the Kilbrittain club.
He also lined out as a schoolboy with St. Finbarr's College and was a substitute on their Harty Cup and All-Ireland-winning team in 1984.
[2][3] O'Connell first appeared on the inter-county scene as a non-playing substitute on the Cork minor hurling team that won the All-Ireland MHC title in 1985.
[5] O'Connell was drafted onto the Cork senior hurling team during the early stage of the 1988-89 National League.
He subsequently joined the junior team and won an All-Ireland medal in that grade in 1994.