Throughout his 25-year club career, he played for Young Islanders, winning seven South Kerry Championship titles during a golden age for the club; he also played for divisional side South Kerry, and experienced success in the County Championship.
He quickly joined the Kerry senior football team, making his debut in 1956 against Tipperary in the Munster Championship.
Two years later, in 1958, O'Connell won the first of eight Munster titles in a row; however, Kerry suffered a shock defeat by Derry in the All-Ireland semi-final.
He later guided his native county to another Munster title; however, he had to retire injured in Kerry's All-Ireland victory over Galway.
Following a second National League victory in 1961 O'Connell captured his second All-Ireland medal in 1962 when Kerry defeated Roscommon in the final.
This defeat was followed by a great year of success in 1969 as O'Connell added a fourth National League medal to his collection before winning a tenth Munster title.
In 1970 O'Connell entered the third decade of his inter-county football career, winning an eleventh Munster title in the process.