Born and raised in Kearny, New Jersey,[1] O'Neill graduated from Essex Catholic High School before playing soccer at the Scots Club, and the University of Bridgeport where he was a 1973 and 1975 All American soccer player.
[2] In 1975, O'Neill turned professional with the Hartford Bicentennials of the North American Soccer League.
The Bicentennials failed to perceive that O'Neill's Roman Catholic faith and his family history of supporting Celtic could present a problem.
In September 1981, he scored the game-winning goal as the Lightnin' took the ASL championship.
[4] He continued with the Lightnin' in 1982, but lost part of the season when he returned to New Jersey to be with his dying father.