Mulcahy first came to prominence as a hurler with the Glen Rovers club on Cork's northside.
Mulcahy was a dual player when he first appeared on the inter-county scene at minor level.
He was a reserve when Cork won the All-Ireland MHC in 1951 before winning a Munster MFC title in 1952.
[1][2] Mulcahy won an All-Ireland JHC title in 1955 and was one of seven players who made their senior team debut when Cork were beaten by Waterford in the 1959 Munster final.
His son, Tomás Mulcahy, captained Cork to victory in the 1990 All-Ireland final.