Born in Craughwell, County Galway, Healy first played hurling as a student at Loughrea Vocational School.

After losing the All-Ireland minor final to Kilkenny in 1993, he claimed a winners' medal a year later after a defeat of Cork.

[2] Healy later spent three years with the under-21 team, winning an All-Ireland medal in 1996 before losing consecutive finals to Cork.

[8] Healy had been involved in coaching at all levels with Craughwell, including a spell as senior team manager in 2019.

That year he also served as a selector with the Galway minor team that won the All-Ireland MHC title.