Noel O'Leary (born 5 May 1982) is an Irish Gaelic footballer who played as a left wing-back for the Cork senior team.
In 2002 O'Leary enjoyed his first major success with Cill na Martra when he captured a divisional junior football championship winners' medal following a 2–10 to 1–9 victory over Grenagh.
By 1999 O'Leary had joined the Cork minor football team, playing corner back for the entire campaign.
That year he won his first provincial winners' medal on the field of play following a 1–13 ro 0–14 defeat of arch-rivals Kerry.
The win gave O'Leary an All-Ireland minor winners' medal in his last appearance for Cork in that grade.
He subsequently played no part due to injury for the remainder of the championship in an unconvincing victory over Clare which was followed by a humiliating 0–18 to 0–12 defeat by Fermanagh.
In an embarrassing game of football for Cork, O'Leary's side were trounced by thirteen points on a score line of 1–19 to 0–9.
O'Leary played in that game, however, in a similar pattern to previous encounters Cork failed to beat Kerry at Croke Park.
Cork gave a good account of themselves, however, Kerry could not be beaten and O'Leary's side went down on a 1–15 to 1–13 score line.
There was some doubt over O'Leary's participation in the game as he had been caught on television cameras striking Graham Geraghty in the All-Ireland semi-final against Meath.
[11] In 2008 Cork gained a modicum of revenge on Kerry when the sides met again in that year's Munster final.
[12] Both sides met again in the All-Ireland semi-final with OLeary at wing back, however, after a thrilling draw and a replay Kerry were the team that advanced to the championship decider.
The game was not without incident as O'Leary was sent to the line for blowing Paul Galvin to the ground with a beautiful right hook.