His league and championship career at senior level with the Cork county team lasted for the 1977-78 season.
Born in Cork, Desmond first played for the St Finbarr's club at juvenile and underage levels before joining the senior team.
Desmond made his debut on the inter-county scene at the age of sixteen when he was selected for the Cork minor team.
He enjoyed two championship seasons with the minor team, culminating with the winning of an All-Ireland medal as captain in 1974.
[1] Desmond subsequently joined the Cork under-21; however, his three seasons on that team ended without success.