Kearins played for St Patrick's football club and was manager of the Sligo county team.
In 2000 Kearins led Bunninadden to their first Sligo Senior Football Championship title in over eight decades.
[3] Kearins resigned as Sligo manager at the end of 2004, reportedly over a disagreement about the inaugural Tommy Murphy Cup.
Kearins’ Garda assignments included Sargeant in Ballymote, and Detective Inspector for 5 years during part of which he was stationed in Carrick-on-Shannon.
[6] Garda officers have a long history of representing the police service in Gaelic athletics.