Freaney first played hurling as a student at St Kieran's College in Kilkenny.
He won a Croke Cup title in 1959, before captaining the team to All-Ireland final defeat by the North Monastery two years later.
[1][2] Freaney's performances for the college resulted in a call-up to the Kilkenny minor hurling team.
[4] Freaney also played for the Carlow senior hurling team in the Leinster SHC.
Freaney's first season with the club saw him end the championship as top scorer, before winning a Cork SHC in 1968.