McAuliffe first played hurling at under-16 level with Ballyholy, before later winning consecutive North Cork MHC medals with the St. Patrick's club in Fermoy.
McAuliffe played his hurling with Shanballymore at this time and won a Cork IHC medal in 1951, after being runners-up the previous year.
[1] McAuliffe's performances at club level resulted in a call-up to the Avondhu divisional team that won the Cork SHC title in 1952.
[3] On the inter-county scene, McAuliffe first appeared as a member of the Cork senior hurling team that won the 1952–53 National League title.
At inter-county level with Cork, he had a long-standing association as trainer-selector with the minor team, with whom he won five All-Ireland MFC titles between 1967 and 1974.