He was a member of the great Cavan squad which won the All-Ireland Final in the Polo Grounds, New York City in 1947.

In the 1948 All-Ireland title success Owen Roe replaced John Joe O'Reilly as a second-half substitute in defence.

The following year he started at left corner-back in the Final, but Meath denied Cavan the three in a row.

He was a member of the Cavan squad when they won their first National Football League title in the 1947/48 season and he lined out at right half-back when Cavan reclaimed the National Football League title in 1949/50.

[4][5] He served in the Irish Army before emigrating to Elizabeth, New Jersey, with his wife Philomena in 1957.