He played with club sides Liatroim Fontenoys and Glenn, and at inter-county level with the Down senior football team.
At club level, McElroy began his career with Liatroim Fontenoys before later winning consecutive Down SFC medals with Glenn in 1962 and 1963.
He was a regular on the team for the next few years and also lined out for Ulster in the Railway Cup, however, his inter-county career was temporarily halted when he undertook a forestry course in Wales from 1955 to 1957.
[3] McElroy won a second league title in 1962 before bringing an end to his career after Down's defeat in the 1962 Ulster final.
His wife Bridie, whom he married in 1962, was a sister of John and Felix McKnight who played Gaelic football with Armagh.