Hanlon first played Gaelic football as a schoolboy at Portarlington CBS.
He simultaneously lined out as a minor with the Gracefield club, before winning an Offaly JFC title in 1958.
Hanlon was drafted onto the St. Patrick's amalgamated team, and added an Offaly SFC title in 1959.
Hanlon was first selected for the Offaly senior football team during the 1958-59 league.
[2] Offaly won the Leinster SFC for the first time under Hanlon's captaincy.