He joined Shamrock Rovers the following year firstly playing under Mick Meagan, then Sean Thomas and Johnny Giles.
On 27 March 1983, he was the victim of a crude tackle from Mick Fairclough of Dundalk, which resulted in a broken leg.
However, two years later, he made a comeback for Waterford United where he scored an own goal in the FAI Cup Final in 1986 against Rovers.
As Rovers had won the League again, this final appearance had qualified the Blues for the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup where Noel scored against FC Girondins de Bordeaux in September 1986, and went on to finish as top goalscorer for Waterford United that season in European competition.
[3] He now works as a taxi driver specialising in driving members of the popular Leeds United forum WACCOE.com to their desired destination.