He was part of the school's senior team that won the Corn Pádraig title in 1983, following a 3-12 to 1-02 defeat of Dungarvan CBS.
[3] Cleary later claimed an All-Ireland Colleges SBHC medal after Nenagh's 1-11 to 1-09 win over Callan CBS in the final.
[7] Cleary added a second Tipperary IFC medal to his collection in 1997 when Nenagh Éire Óg claimed the title after a 3-07 to 1-06 defeat of Carrick Swans in a final replay.
[10] After a number of years away from the inter-county scene, Cleary joined the senior team in January 1988 and made his debut in a National Hurling League game against Waterford.
[11] He ended the campaign with his first league winners' medal, while he was an unused substitute when Tipperary beat Cork by 2-19 to 1-13 in 1988 Munster SHC final.
Cleary added a second National Hurling League title to his collection in 1994, in what proved to be his last silverware with the Tipperary senior team.