[1] Born in Portlaoise, County Laois, Joyce developed as a hurler during his secondary schooling at Good Counsel College in New Ross.

Joyce made his debut on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he was selected for the Kilkenny minor team.

Local rivals Limerick Institute of Technology provided the opposition and led by nine points on two separate occasions in the first half.

Extra time was needed to separate the sides, however, Joyce collected an All-Ireland Intermediate Club Hurling Championship medal following a 1-16 to 1-9 victory.

Richie Hogan proved to be the hero for Kilkenny, as his point, a minute into injury time, earned "the Cats" a 1–18 to 3–12 draw.

He won a Leinster medal that year following a 2-18 to 2-10 defeat of Dublin before later lining out in the All-Ireland decider against Tipperary on 10 September 2006.

[11] The replay a week later was another close encounter, however, Paddy Hogan's first half goal helped Kilkenny claw their way to the title.

[12] After surrendering their provincial and All-Ireland crowns the following year, Joyce won a second Leinster medal in 2008 following a facile 2–21 to 2–9 defeat of Offaly.

Tipperary whittled down a six-point half-time deficit to just two with minutes to go, however, Kilkenny hung on to win by 2–13 to 0–15 and secure the Grand Slam of championship titles.

Galway stunned the reigning champions with two first-half goals, however, Kilkenny's championship debutant Walter Walsh gave a man of the match performance.

[23] Kilkenny's dominance showed no sign of abating in 2013, with Joyce winning a second league medal following a 2–17 to 0–20 defeat of Tipperary in the decider.

[24] In 2014 Joyce collected his third successive league medal, as Kilkenny secured a narrow one-point 2–25 to 1–27 extra-time victory over Tipperary.

[25] Joyce subsequently secured his first Leinster medal on the field of play, as a dominant Kilkenny display gave "the Cats" a 0–24 to 1–9 defeat of Dublin.

John O'Dwyer had the chance to win the game, however, his late free drifted wide resulting in a draw.

Kilkenny retained the Leinster title in 2016, with Joyce claiming a fourth winners' medal following a 1-26 to 0-22 defeat of Galway.