Burke first played hurling at juvenile and underage levels with the St Thomas' club.

[1] Burke later won three Galway SHC titles and was at midfield for the two-point defeat of Kilcormac/Killoughey in the 2013 All-Ireland club final.

He made his debut in 2003, however, he remained a peripheral figure, lining out in several National Hurling League games before leaving the panel in 2008.

[6] Burke first became involved in inter-county management when he was a selector under Jeffrey Lynskey with the Galway minor team that won the All-Ireland MHC title in 2018.

[7][8] Burke also guided St. Thomas' to the All-Ireland Club SHC title in 2024 after an 0-18 to 0-17 defeat of O'Loughlin Gaels in the final.