He played his hurling with his local club Toomevara, and Tipperary as midfield and wing back.
O'Gara first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Tipperary minor hurling team in 1955.
That team defeated Galway in the minor hurling final in Croke Park.
O'Gara retired in 1963 following an injury during a hurling match in Boherlahan, County Tipperary.
O'Gara was voted best new rookie in 1961 and narrowly failed to be selected on the Railway Cup team.