[1] Born in Ardee, County Louth, Reilly was raised in a strong Gaelic football household.
His father, Stephen Reilly, won a Leinster medal with the Louth junior team in 1912.
He won a county minor championship medal in 1954 before later joining the club's adult team.
Reilly made his first appearance on the inter-county scene as a member of the Louth minor team in 1954.
Over the following seven seasons Reilly enjoyed much success, culminating with the winning of a set of All-Ireland and Leinster medals in 1957.